ACLU opposes dogfight bill

Legislation that would allow authorities in California to seize property used for dogfighting dissolved Tuesday into a battle pitting canine lovers against the American Civil Liberties Union and defense attorneys.

The Senate Public Safety Committee put off a vote until next week after the ACLU and the California Public Defenders Association expressed concern the bill would elevate punishment for dogfighting to a level not accorded crimes against humans, including murder.

Senate Bill 1775 by Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, would allow the forfeiture of property used for dogfighting.

"What makes this measure different from past forfeiture measures this committee has seen is that the proceeds go to animal welfare organizations who rescue and rehabilitate fighting dogs," Calderon said before the hearing.

Calderon cited statistics from the Humane Society of the United States, which found that nationwide 40,000 people are involved in organized fighting, resulting in the death of 250,000 dogs each year.

The senator was joined by animal rights activists who said dogfighting is prevalent throughout California, including the Sacramento region.

"You can go to any county animal control or city animal control (facility) and you'll frequently find large numbers of pit bulls that have been used for fighting," said Eric Sakach, a Humane Society official based in Sacramento.

Patty Letawsky, who lives in Wilton, said she has rescued several pit bulls from area shelters, including a dog named Peaches.

"She had crushing fractures, torn ears and a torn nose and about 200 (bite) punctures," Letawsky said of the dog's condition. "In time, she became good with dogs, cats, kids ... she was the best."

Calderon called dogfighting "a shadowy, underground crime that is increasingly associated with gangs and drugs, desensitizes young people and breeds more violence."

But Francisco Lobaco, legislative director for the ACLU, told the Senate committee his organization "very strongly opposes" SB 1775.

"The Legislature has been extremely cautious in the type of crimes for which it allows asset forfeiture," Lobaco said.

He cited "serious drug offenses" as a rare example, but noted forfeiture does not apply to "murder, mayhem, kidnapping, and a variety of more serious crimes."

Liberty Sanchez, representing the public defenders' organization, said the bill fails to provide a clear definition "of what promoting dogfighting is."

"Basically, what we're doing is we're saying dogfighting crime is more serious than murder or mayhem," Sanchez said in opposing the bill.

Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, the committee's chairwoman, said she had "some real serious concerns" about the "over-broad" forfeiture provisions in the bill.

Romero postponed a vote on the bill until next Tuesday to see if the competing sides "can work something out."

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• Call Aurelio Rojas, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5545.