The directors of the humane society organizations in Hawai’i have joined forces to support a bill to modernize animal cruelty laws and to provide for stiffer penalties for cockfighting. All or some of them plan to speak out against the
The directors of the humane society organizations in Hawai’i have joined forces to support a bill to modernize animal cruelty laws and to provide for stiffer penalties for cockfighting.
All or some of them plan to speak out against the bill if the House of Representatives Agriculture Committee meets Friday, according to Dr. Rebecca Rhoades, who heads the Kaua’i Humane Society.
The heads of the organizations hope the change will deter cockfighting, which is illegal but is a deeply entrenched cultural sport in Hawai’i, Rhoades said.
If the bill becomes law, cockfighting chickens would no longer be needlessly slaughtered and bird owners could face heftier fines and prison time, Rhoades said.
“It is a horrific thing. It is a blood sport.” she said. “It is for entertainment and cash, and we allow animals to fight to the death.”
The bill has gone through Senate review and was sent from the House Judiciary Committee to the House Agriculture Committee, but it could be killed because there was no 48-hour posting of a notice for a meeting by the Agriculture Committee.
Proponents of the bill are seeking a waiver of the notice requirement so that the bill can be discussed by legislators Friday, Rhodes said.
The House Agriculture committee, headed by House Rep. Felipe P. Abinsay Jr., has not scheduled a hearing as of Thursday, according to Ray Adams, a staff person for House Rep. Ezra Kanoho, who reportedly has thrown his support behind the measure.
Abinsay was not immediately available for comment.
The state Legislature is proposing the bill protect animals that have now become an integral parts of people’s lives.
When the original bill was passed 100 years ago, animals were primarily used to provide transportation, guard homes and businesses and help to herd animals in farm, legislators said.
Animals today have become “companions” to people and live indoors, the bill said, and a change is needed to address the roles animals play in today’s modern society.
Rhoades contended the bill should be amended because cockfighting is treated as a misdemeanor.
“Cockfighters look at it only as the cost of doing business. We want to see the penalties increased because it is a bloodsport,” Rhoades said.
Currently, a person convicted for cruelty to animal would face a maximum jail sentence of one year and a maximum fine $2,000, according to Craig De Costa, first deputy prosecutor with the Kaua’i Prosecutor’s Office.
The bill proposes to make the crime a class “C” felony, which would be punishable by a maximum five-year jail sentence and a maximum $10,000 fine for a conviction.
De Costa said his office handled a few cruelty to animal cases – including cockfighting – last year that led to convictions.
Currently, 47 states have outlawed cockfighting, and 27 of them, most recently Arizona, have classified cockfighting as a felony, Rhoades said.
Under the bill, people could be charged cruelty to animals if they recklessly kill or torture an animal or forces a person to injure or kill an animal.
People also could be charged if they own or train a cock or other fighting fowl to fight another cock or stage cockfights.
The bill also makes it a crime for people who manufacture, buy, sell, barter, exchange or possess gaffs or slashers used in cockfighting.
A criminal court judge also can require a person convicted of cockfighting to pay for counseling. The bill notes any counseling imposed shall be in addition to other conditions of the sentencing.
A person also can be charged for cruelty to animals if they overdrive, overloads, tortures, cruelly beats, starves, mutilates or poisons an animal, according to the bill.
The measure would not apply to veterinarians who treated animals with life-ending injuries. In such cases, the animal may be euthanized.
State Department of Land and Natural Resources employee also would not be affected by the bill in the elimination or control of feral pigs, the legislation noted.
The bill also would protect living condition of pets. Animals must have sufficient food for growth, adequate water, protection from wind, rain and sun, an area of confinement that provides adequate space for health and sufficient health care in case of injury or illness.
