Dog fighting would become a felony in Idaho, and attending a dogfight – now legal – would become a misdemeanor, under legislation introduced today in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senate Majority Caucus Chairman Brad Little, R-Emmett, presented the bill and it was quickly and unanimously approved for introduction. Little said he worked with the Humane Society, the wool growers, the governor’s office, the Farm Bureau, kennel clubs and lots of legislators to draft the bill, which makes a point of exempting the use of animals in management of livestock. “If I woulda put co-sponsors on it, I would’ve had to have two pages to it,” Little said. “This really goes after the group we want, which are the guys who are profiting from it.” Dog-fighting legislation was rejected the past three legislative sessions, largely due to opposition from ag groups. Little said he figures the chances of his bill succeeding this year are “really good, very good.”

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