Tougher punishments for animal fighting are moving through the General Assembly.  The latest focus is on cockfighting, a sport that is actually legal as long as gambling isn't involved. 

The bill sailed through a Senate committee, but many people consider cockfighting to be a family tradition that they don't want to lose.

"Words cannot describe the affection that these families have for their roosters," says Scott Johnson, with the Virginia Gamefowl Breeders Association.

The association argues cockfighting is a gentleman's sport and a family activity born in colonial times.  Johnson says there's no gambling, no drinking, no minors, and no shooting up roosters with steroids.  There's also a 10 minute limit on fights.

However, the Henry County Commonwealth's Attorney painted a different picture of the sport for members of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

"There is tons and tons of illegal gambling in the thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars," says Bob Bushnell.

The bill sponsored by Delegates Morgan Griffith and Ward Armstrong makes fighting cocks or other animals punishable by up to a year in jail or a fine of up to $2,500.  Attaching knives to the rooster's body, charging admission or gambling on a fight would be a felony.

"Clearly I think the vast majority of people think that this type of practice needs to be made illegal," says Armstrong.

In response to the puppy mill case in Carroll County last fall, the same committee passed a bill designed to crack down on dog breeders.  The Richmond SPCA received 30 of the thousands of dogs seized there.

"Most all of them had horrible teeth," says Robin Starr, Richmond SPCA President.  "One in fact had no teeth at a very young age, which shows that they were not being fed decently."

The bill limits the number of dogs breeders can maintain at one time.  It also sets up inspection requirements.

The SPCA spent $10,000 rehabilitating the dogs. 

All of them have been adopted.  The puppy mill bill now goes to another Senate committee.  It appears the animal fighting legislation will easily pass.

http://www.wdbj7.com/Global/story.asp?S=7922790