Editor:

Do you think dogs should be used in the hunting of wolves? Dog fighting is a Class I Felony in Wisconsin. Possession of fighting dogs is a Class I Felony.

The law statute 951.08 titled instigating fights between animals.

(1) No person may intentionally instigate, promote, aid or abet as a principal, agent or employee, or participate in the earnings from, or intentionally maintain or allow any place to be used for a cockfight, dog fight, bullfight or other fight between the same or different kinds of animals or between an animal and a person. This section does not prohibit events or exhibitions commonly featured at rodeos or bloodless bullfights.

(2) No person may own, possess, keep or train any animal with the intent that the animal be engaged in an exhibition of fighting.

(2m) If a person has been convicted under sub. (1) or (2), the person may not own, possess, keep or train any animal for a period of 5 years after the conviction. In computing the 5-year period, time which the person spent in actual confinement serving a criminal sentence shall be excluded. The person may move the sentencing court to have this requirement waived. The court may waive the requirement except that the waiver may not authorize the person to own, possess, keep or train animals of the species involved in the offense under sub. (1) or (2).

(3) No person may intentionally be a spectator at a cockfight, dog fight, bullfight or other fight between the same or different kinds of animals or between an animal and a person.

What is this the intent of this law, and who or what is it protecting? You be the judge.

Craig Strid, Rhinelander