KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — The Kalamazoo Humane Society says it will be going back to the State Legislature again to see if they can’t get stiffer penalties imposed for dogfighting in Michigan.
They went to lawmakers in 2012, outraged because the first time that Kelvin Thomas was prosecuted for raising 3-dozen fighting dogs in Kalamazoo County, he was only given a fine and community service.
Lawmakers responded and approved giving judges the authority to seize property and prosecute for racketeering when organized dogfighting is involved. At the time the Humane Society called them the toughest laws against dogfighting in the nation, but apparently not in every case.
When Thomas was prosecuted again last year for raising 10-fighting dogs, he was given probation, counseling and a stiffer fine, but still no jail time after cutting a deal with prosecutors.
In a news release, the Humane Society says that’s just not good enough and will take their case back to Lansing and they are asking everyone who feels the same way to write their legislators and let them hear about it.
