In 2023, state lawmakers added DOGFIGHTING to the list of crimes that constitute "racketeering activity" under Georgia's racketeering and organized crime (RICO) statute, resulting in significantly greater penalties and longer jail sentences.
The timing of this new law has become even more important as federal authorities are seizing the largest number of animals from the Southeast. A CNN investigation of dog fighting in the U.S. "...found that federal authorities seized more dogs last year—through civil forfeitures—than any other year since Michael Vick was indicted. Court records and interviews further reveal how dog fighting has evolved in the internet age with dog owners turning to encrypted messaging apps to exchange training tips and arrange fights."
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