Dog fighting is likely to carry more penalties in Mississippi with a little luck! While it's unclear if any negative changes have been made to the original wording of the anti-dog fighting bill, SB 2934, introduced by Senator Bob Dearing, what is clear is that the bill has officially passed! The Mississippi Senate voted 47 in favor of the conference version of SB 2934, while three dissented, and two abstained, and this was the last vote needed. The next step is the governor's signature, after which the statute will go into effect on July 1, 2018.

SB 2934 had been passed in the Senate and then later amended to the dissatisfaction of the Senate while in the House. The Senate had passed SB 2934 in order to increase penalties for all related activities to fighting dogs, including for spectators.

The Mississippi State House of Representatives had unfortunately amended SB 2934 to reduce sentencing. The amended bill was approved by the Agriculture Committee and later received a 113-1 vote of approval by the House. District 11 Representative Lataisha Jackson cast the one and only dissenting vote.

In responding to inquiries as to why she voted against the bill, she replied, "I am by no means a supporter of any form of animal cruelty; however, penalties for observers and mass incarnation [sic] will not allow me to vote in support of the legislation." We're disappointed that she refuses to acknowledge that without stiff penalties for all involved, dog fighting won't end.

After the House's watering down of the bill, the Senate then "declined to concur" on the amendment and "invited conference" with the House. The House agreed to conference and Lt. Governor Tate Reeves appointed three members of the Senate and three members of the House of Representatives to conference and to come to an agreement or an impasse on the bill. The conference members came to an agreement and the agreed language was brought back to each side for a vote. The Senate heard debate on the bill the afternoon of March 27.

For animal advocates, Mississippi's 2018 legislative session, which ends April 1, has been a season of pins and needles. Our Justice for Animals Campaign and the statewide coalition of organizations and individual advocates have been meeting consistently with legislators, agency heads, and the media to shed light on the issues of animal cruelty and our governing bodies' responsibility to protect defenseless animals from the wanton harm so regularly inflicted on them.

In fact, it was during a Town Hall Meeting that our Justice for Animals Campaign Director, Doll Stanley, was approached by Senator Bob Dearing. He asked for our help with his bill to increase the penalties for dog fighting. We didn't let him down, even during the Senate vote on SB 2934, and our coalition notes served as a consistent resource for him.

We wish to thank everyone involved in our Mississippi coalition effort to see this dog fighting bill passed.