Making the Dogman Heel: Recommendations for Improving the Effectiveness of Dogfighting Laws

Abstract

Since Michael Vick’s arrest and conviction, federal, state and local governments have attempted to step up efforts at enforcing laws prohibiting dogfighting. However, because of biases held by some law enforcement personnel, prosecutors and judges as well as burdensome investigatory costs and evidentiary problems, enforcement of the laws is ineffective in many cases. This article discusses these issues and argues that, because of various social problems that are tied closely to dogfighting, continued efforts must be made to make prosecution of dogfighting more effective. To that end, the article makes recommendations to address the problems that hinder enforcement. Recommendations include several statutory changes and the creation of local, state, and federal task forces to improve enforcement through educational efforts, behavior modification, coordinated investigation, and cost-sharing. * Presidential Research Professor and Professor of Law, South Texas College of Law. The author wishes to thank Belinda Smith, Chief, Animal Cruelty Section, Harris County District Attorney’s Office, Dr. Dawn Blackmar, Director, Veterinary Public Health at Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services, and Sherry Ferguson, Executive Director, Houston Humane Society for providing insight into the world of dogfighting and animal cruelty response. Thanks also to Professors Sandra Carnahan, Bill Wilks, and Amy Bures-Danna and attorney Melanie Renazco for comments on earlier drafts of this piece as well as to Lindsay Lutterbie for her able research assistance.

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