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Gov. Jerry Brown doubles fines for bear, bull and rooster fighting

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Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday doubled the fines for people convicted of causing bears, bulls and roosters to fight with other animals or with people.

The maximum fine for operating or hosting those animal fights will rise from $5,000 to $10,000 starting Jan. 1 under legislation signed by the governor. The bill by Sen. Bill Emmerson (R-Hemet) also increases the maximum fines for spectators at the animal fights from $1,000 to $5,000.

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Emmerson indicated that the primary focus of the bill was to end cockfighting, although it lists other species as well because bears and bulls are in the same section of the state law.

Eric L. Sakach of the Humane Society of the United States said the provisions on bear and bull fighting are remnants of the early years of the state when such fights were staged, but he is not aware of the problem continuing. The story is different for roosters.

“Cockfighting is a cruel and inhumane sport that is a growing concern in the inland Southern California region and throughout our state,” Emmerson said. “Clearly, our penalties and fines are not stiff enough to prevent this brutal sport from taking place.”

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-- Patrick McGreevy in Sacramento

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