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CONTACT THE ENTERPRISE Jocelyn Robinson, News editor jrobinson@heraldnet.com

Dunshee bill seeks to stop canine fighting

Enterprise staff

A law banning canine-on-canine fighting stands out in a legislative session dominated by transportation issues.

Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, is proposing House Bill 2547 to close a loophole in state law that allows people to match foxes and coyotes against domestic dogs for sport.

In these canine-on-canine matches, coyotes and foxes are trapped in pens and fenced yards with packs of dogs and ripped apart. The dogs receive performance ratings that are used by owners to determine breeding fees.

"I became aware of this when I visited the Department of Fish and Wildlife Web site to plan a hike," Dunshee said on Friday, Jan. 18, after the House Judiciary Committee discussed the bill in a public hearing that morning. "It made me sick to my stomach -- the idea of torturing animals for entertainment."

Dunshee's legislation, the Animal Cruelty Act of 2008, treats canine-on-canine fighting like domestic dog fighting.

There were concerns when the bill was first introduced that farmers would no longer be able to kill foxes and coyotes that threatened livestock.

"That is not the intention of this law," Dunshee said. "This is intended only to prevent a vicious blood sport."

Fish and Wildlife officials say reports of canine-on-canine fighting in Washington have been isolated to the southern, rural stretches of the state.

"Wherever it's happening, it needs to be stopped," Dunshee said. "We can't tolerate animals being ripped apart for the sick joy of watching cruelty."

Dunshee said the bill will return to committee after a few changes are made to reflect the concerns from farmers.

"I really haven't encountered any opposition to this," he said. "There has been some grumbling, but people are just as sickened by this as I am."