Oregon Public Broadcasting

Idaho has the weakest dog fighting laws on the books.  That’s according to a list compiled by the Humane Society.

Idaho and Wyoming are the only states in the nation that do not consider canine death matches a felony.  Correspondent Elizabeth Wynne Johnson went to the source to find out what’s behind Idaho’s opposition to tougher dog fighting laws.  And why that opposition might be crumbling.

For years, Idaho state representative Tom Trail has championed tougher dog fighting laws. And lost.  His opponents include the Idaho Cattle Association.  Executive vice president Josh Tewalt knows what his critics are thinking.

Josh Tewalt: "Why would anybody be opposed to strengthening the dog fighting statute?  It’s tough to get your side out to say that we’re not opposed strengthening the dog fighting statute.  We just want to make sure that the folks impacted by it are the ones that need to be impacted by it."

Ranchers and farmers worry that a spontaneous fight between two working dogs could result in a felony conviction.

A growing coalition of Idaho lawmakers is working on a new version of the law. Tewalt says it’s a contender.

Josh Tewalt: "This language goes a long ways towards resolving some of the concerns that we’ve had in the past."

Idaho lawmakers are expected to take up the issue in 2008.

On the web:

View the state dogfighting rankings