South Carolina’s animal fighting laws are some of the most lax in the nation and the recent breakup of cockfighting ring in the Upstate has some calling for stiffer penalties.
Roughly 50 people were arrested Sunday during a raid in northern Greenville County and charged with betting on cockfights.
It’s currently a misdemeanor to host a cockfight, with a maximum penalty of a $1,000 fine and a year in jail.
“It’s almost a slap on the wrist,” said Wayne Brennessel, with the Humane Society of Columbia.
The Humane Society of the United States ranks South Carolina 44th in the nation for the severity of its cockfighting laws.
Neighboring states Georgia and North Carolina are ranked 34th and 36th, respectively, where cockfighting is a felony.
“The law certainly needs to be strengthened,” said state Sen. Larry Martin (R-Pickens).
Martin is sponsoring a bill that would make all types of animal fighting a felony in South Carolina.
He said his bill, which he plans to introduce next session, would increase the penalties for animal fighting to 5 years and $5,000.
“It’s a pretty severe punishment,” said Martin. “The folks that engage directly in the activity need to be more severely dealt with.”
He hopes increasing the penalties will deter animal fighting in the state.
“It usually centers around gambling, that’s the big draw to an animal fight or a cockfight,” said Martin.
“That’s why we need to be vigilant and enhance the sanctions, because what it leads to is obviously more egregious crimes.”
“You’re also looking at potential money laundering situations, gambling, drugs, illegal weapons,” said Brennessel.
“It’s not just the animal fighting, which in and of itself is despicable, but all the other potential crimes that go along with it.”
Brennessel said he believes people are traveling to South Carolina for cockfights because the penalties are less severe, than in other neighboring states.
“I think we are attracting people from out of state,” he said. “You don’t want an unsavory element attracted to your state.”
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