San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael A. Ramos and Senator Bill Emmerson, R-Hemet, recently addressed state legislators on SB 1145, a bill that seeks to increase the fines levied against participants and spectators of illegal cockfights.

Especially where groups of neighboring urban buildings are involved, empty foreclosure properties present an increasing challenge for law enforcement as incoming criminals replace outgoing residents.

Pet theft remains a terrible reality across the country. Often underlying these crimes are dogfighters seeking "bait" animals and dealers acquiring animals to sell to research and breeding operations. Find out what you can do to help.

California passed several significant bills into law targeting persons who victimize animals, including the following.

What you can do help establish mandatory minimum sentences in aggravated forms of animal abuse? Educate yourself and then act

It's time to close loopholes in the federal animal fighting law, thereby giving law enforcement the tools they need to hold animal abusers accountable.

Help make it illegal to attend or bring a minor to animal fights!

Tell Google they should not sell mobile apps that promote animal cruelty!

A new app for mobile phones called "Dog Wars" was pulled from the Android market after public outcry only to be reintroduced a few days later under the name "KG Dogfighting."

In Hawaii, Peacock "Pests" May Still be Killed, Just Not with Baseball Bats, and Attending a Dogfight Becomes a Felony; Florida Slated to Finally Criminalize the Sexual Assault of Animals

Those willing to profit by causing animals to suffer share a disturbing characteristic: they lack empathy.

Help put an end to dogfighting and create strong laws for animals so criminals who use animals for fighting receive meaningful sentences.

Baker County, Florida
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Susan Abrams Dannelly has served as the Assistant State Attorney of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of the State of Florida since 1978. Susan is known as a tough prosecutor of murder and rape cases, but she has also worked hard to gain convictions in heinous animal cruelty cases.

President Obama's strong statement of support for the Eagles' hiring of Michael Vick and hollow rhetoric of "giving prisoners a second chance" suggests to me and other Americans that he has blinders on about the criminal atrocities committed by Michael Vick.

Harriett, Ernie, Suzie, Kali and twelve other dogs rescued from an Independence, Kansas dogfighting operation are looking for loving families to give them a new chance at life in the new year.

Sixteen Temperament-Tested Dogs Saved from Kansas Dogfighting Ring in Need of Loving Homes

Michael Vick's federal sentence contains a three-year ban on the possession of a dog. Should it have been permanent? We at the Animal Legal Defense Fund certainly think so, but we have to recognize the jurisdictional limits inherent in our justice system.

In this Q&A session, attorney Scott Heiser, director of the Animal Legal Defense Fund's Criminal Justice Program, answers some questions and provides some clarification relating to the current debate about whether Michael Vick should be allowed to own a pet dog.

So Michael Vick played a great football game for the National Football League on Monday, November 15th. So do you think that the many animals Vick abused and tortured during his reign of terror at "Bad Newz Kennels," his interstate dog fighting ring, care about his athleticism?

Kristian Dennard Jackson & Decarlos Lashawn Young pled guilty today to animal killing/torturing and arson of real property.

Citizens Urged to Take a Stand Against Dogfighting by Attending the Hearing, Demanding Justice

Michigan: Please Attend Wayne County Court Proceeding on Wednesday Morning, November 17th

Wayne County, Michigan
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Were you ever that passionate? Were you ever that hopeful?

The Associated Press on September 16th reported that a man accused of dragging a "stubborn" horse alongside his truck has become the first person convicted by a Puerto Rico jury under an animal protection law enacted after dogs were thrown to their deaths from a bridge.

New Jersey is considering S539, a state law that would strengthen the penalties associated with the crime of dogfighting and enable prosecutors to charge dogfighting ringleaders under New Jersey's RICO ("Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations") statute.

Write a polite letter to the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services to oppose parole for this dogfighter, who is responsible for the suffering of many innocent animals in this violent bloodsport.

Charleston County, South Carolina
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Last year, Americans spent roughly $18 billion dollars on coffee—and virtually nothing to protect animals from some of the worst abuses imaginable. Is this who we are?

What the Court's decision means for animals.

The United States Supreme Court issued its decision in the case of United States v. Stevens, a constitutional challenge to 18 U.S.C. § 48 ("Section 48"), the federal law that criminalized the sale of depictions of animal cruelty. The Court held that the law violates the free speech clause of the First Amendment and is therefore unenforceable.

Bill to make torturing cats and dogs a felony dies in the legislature.

In the world of animal crimes prosecutions, it is common knowledge that those who participate in the underground world of animal fighting have a very real and frequently indulged need to communicate about their illegal exploits.

Please visit ExposeAnimalAbusers.org and urge your state lawmakers to propose legislation for an animal abuser registry in your state.

Celebrating some of our nation's most important animal advocates.

Amy Slameka has been with the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office since January 2001. She co-founded the Animal Protection Unit (APU) in 2008 with Rajesh Prasad. The APU is designed to combat the underground criminal community that breeds, trains, houses and sells fighting animals.

Raj Prasad has been an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney at the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office since 2005. Raj co-founded the office's Animal Protection Unit (APU) in 2008 with APA Amy Slameka. The APU has achieved a 98% conviction rate.

James Reams has served as the Rockingham County Attorney for the past 12 years. James spearheaded the landmark prosecution when, in 2001, the Plaistow District Court searched the property of Christopher Devito in Newton, N.H. for evidence of running a "fighting dog" operation.

New bill allows veterinarians to report suspected cases of animal cruelty.

Bob Barker may best be known as the beloved host of the longest running TV game show in history. But "The Price is Right" host is also a long-time advocate for animals and is the keynote speaker at Animal Legal Defense Fund's "Future of Animal Law" conference on April 9-11 at Harvard Law School.

An amicus curiae brief permits a non-party to offer its view of a case, typically premised on either its interest in the outcome or its expertise in the field. The Animal Legal Defense Fund submits amicus briefs in a wide variety of cases, working to advance the interests of animals by urging courts to recognize their own interests and their special value to humans.

The Supreme Court heard oral argument on Tuesday ...

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments tomorrow in U.S. v. Stevens, a case involving the sale of dogfighting videos. The sale and possession of such videos has been illegal in the U.S. for a decade, but this case may result in the Supreme Court ruling that video depictions of animal cruelty are protected under the First Amendment.

ALDF Submits Amicus Brief Supporting Anti-cruelty Law

The complexities of the United States v. Stevens case are clarified in this Q & A session with ALDF Attorney Matthew Liebman. Have additional questions? Post them in the comments section and Matthew will answer them on the Q & A page.

U.S. Supreme Court Directly Addresses the Issue of Animal Cruelty

A big part of the Animal Legal Defense Fund's work is to act as voice for animals in the political process. We provide resources to help advocates contact their elected officials and suggest guidelines for strategically working with them to help animals. We draft model laws on all sorts of animal related issues, providing lawmakers who want to take up the cause of animal protection with strong foundations for proposing legislation.

AB 243 has cleared the California Legislature and now awaits Governor Schwarzenegger's signature. ALDF provided research and advice to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office (who championed the proposal) on the drafting of the bill - a process which began more than a year ago.

ALDF Attorney Dana Campbell is headed to Daytona Beach, Florida for more than just fun in the sun. On September 14, she will be training the Daytona Beach Police Department how to spot dogfighting operations.

Volusia County, Florida
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Take Action! Support ALDF's First Strike and You're Out law!

I write today to express my deep gratitude to Representatives Sara Gelser and Brad Witt for sponsoring a very important bill on behalf of yours truly and ALDF, namely House Bill 2529. HB 2529 does a number of good things for animals.

U.S. Supreme Court will directly address the issue of animal cruelty.

The Michael Vick case made headlines around the nation - and around the globe - but as we know from the number of cases reported to ALDF week after week, dogfighting is a national epidemic.

Give prosecutors the tools to go after dogfighters like Michael Vick.

Although animal fighting is illegal in all 50 states, the Animal Legal Defense Fund is working to make such crimes easier to prosecute and punishable by stronger penalties.

U.S. Supreme Court to address animal cruelty in U.S. v. Stevens.

ALDF's newly published Animal Fighting Factsheet and Michael Vick case study.

The case of dogfighter Craig Boyd illustrates how failing to prosecute operators aggressively, issuing lenient sentences for the convicted, and completely ignoring accessories to the crime impede efforts to stop animal fighting and all its cruelty.

Animal fighting has been brought to the forefront of the nation's attention by the highly publicized conviction of NFL star quarterback Michael Vick and three of his associates on federal and state charges related to illegal dogfighting.

This comprehensive resource discusses the most common types of animal fighting, issues common to animal fighting cases, state and federal laws and prosecuting animal fighting crimes.

Breed-specific bans and restrictions are extremely problematic. Dangerous dogs can be of any breed, or of mixed breeds. Such bans are not only difficult to enforce, but they also unfairly penalize those dogs and guardians who are behaving in accordance with the laws, while doing nothing to address one of the root causes of dangerous dogs – irresponsible guardians.

Addressing the issue of aggressive dogs in a non-breed-specific fashion, focusing on the behavior of individual dogs, not on their breed.

Martin County, Texas
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Act now!

Most recently, Mr. Brandes has been working on prosecuting large scale breeders, including a case in which more than 130 dogs were seized from the property of defendant Mahlon "Pat" Patrick.

Ms. Knaan helped introduce new state legislation, AB 243, into the California Assembly—this bill would allow a judge to bar a felon convicted of animal cruelty from owning animals for a certain period after their release. She is currently working on a program designed to encourage reporting of animal fighting and a program intended to educate those who have failed to properly care for their animals.

Believing that education is the most effective tool to changing people's attitudes, Sandra has initiated, developed and/or hosted numerous training opportunities, both within the Department and with other organizations, that are designed to eliminate misconceptions about animal-related crimes and redirect the focus from a simple "humane issue" to a "law enforcement issue."

The SALDF chapter at the University of Houston has had its ups and downs this past year, but has managed to stay focused on their primary objective - making the world a better place for all creatures, one step at a time.

Bronx, New York
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State RICO Laws to Cover Organized Dogfighting

New Law Will Criminalize Organized Dogfighting, Allow Prosecutors to Charge Abusers Under RICO Laws

ALDF Applauds Oregon Lawmakers for Passing S.B. 1072

SB 26 Criminalizes Organized Dogfighting

Found Guilty of Financing Dogfighting Operation and Viciously Killing Dogs

Proposed Amendment to State RICO Act Could Send Dogfighters to Jail for 20 Years

Proposed Amendment to State RICO Act Could Send Dogfighters to Jail for 40 Years

Urge NFL to Not Tolerate Dogfighting

Animal Legal Defense Fund Sends Letter to Washington Redskins Players Clinton Portis and Chris Samuels

The Animal Legal Defense Fund has produced a first-of-its-kind report – a ranking of all fifty states and the District of Columbia for the general comprehensiveness and relative strength of their respective animal protection laws.

This is the must-have resource for lawyers, law professors, law students, legislators, other legal professionals, and anyone who wants the most comprehensive animal protection laws collection of its kind available.

It can be heartbreaking to see a neighbor’s animal suffering in a situation of neglect. Depending on the situation, there are various ways you can help the animal or animals involved. Read for more information.

If you witness the abuse or neglect of an animal, please immediately file a complaint with your local law enforcement agency and insist that an investigation be completed. If charges have been filed, please contact ALDF and read this important information.