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FROM
CUBA
Authorities to prosecute dog fights
HAVANA, March 30 (www.cubanet.org / Ariel
Delgado Covarrubias) - Authorities here
have announced they will prosecute illegal
dog fights that have proliferated for years
under the shadow of official indifference.
The announcement said more than a hundred
owners of Staffordshire terriers, the breed
identified in the announcement as that most
often used in dog fights, have already been
warned or fined.
Although there was no mention in the announcement
as to what section of the criminal code
would be used to prosecute the fights, experts
say most likely the gambling statutes will
be called upon.
A substantial number of people have been
complaining about the fights since late
last year, and they have been joined by
animal-defense organizations and journalists.
Not everyone, however, is confident the
official campaign will succeed. "Not
even by jailing us are they going to eradicate
the fights," said Yossiel, a breeder
of the dogs who said he was one of the ones
already warned by authorities. "There
will be fewer fights, that's true, but persecution
will only add an element of danger and will
cause an increase in the betting,"
he said.
The penalties announced range from one
to three years in prison and could reach
eight if there are minors involved in the
activity.
Versión
original en español
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