DES MOINES - State lawmakers are looking to toughen penalties on people who attend illegal dog or animal fights in an attempt to crack down on the brutal practice.

The Iowa House Public Safety Committee is expected to consider a bill this week that would make it a felony to attend the sporting events.

Committee Chair Jim Lykam, D-Davenport, had been considering the legislation even before NFL star Michael Vick grabbed headlines for his involvement in a brutal dog fighting operation.

"I don't think we need it in our society," Lykam said of the sport.

Attending an illegal animal fight currently is an aggravated misdemeanor under Iowa law, bringing a possible two-year prison term for those who are convicted. The bill under consideration would make attending an illegal fight a Class D felony, which can carry up to a five-year prison term.

Lykam acknowledges the proposed penalty could be considered harsh by some.

"People that would enjoy this kind of bloodletting and actually torturing of innocent animals, what would they do to kids or whatever? I mean, I don't think they're wired right?" Lykam said.

Enhancing the penalty would help give prosecutors bargaining power when they are trying to obtain the names of others who are involved, Lykam said.

He doesn't expect to see a lot of new arrests if the bill becomes law because it is difficult for police to find the underground fights that host high-stakes betting.

Rep. Deborah Berry, D-Waterloo, has raised questions about criminal charges for those who might be brought along to a dog fight unknowingly.

"That's always been my issue," she said.

Rep. Doris Kelley, D-Waterloo, recalls visiting her son in Alabama and seeing the gruesome evidence of dog fighting there.

"We were walking, and I noticed where people had thrown animals in the ditch," Kelley said.

She hopes higher penalties would discourage spectators from attending animal fights.

"If you're observing it, you're saying it's OK," Kelley said. "So to me, that's as wrong as participating."

Sen. Bill Dotzler, D-Waterloo, also is siding with the idea of harsh penalties.

"It's something that I think that dredges up some of the worst qualities of humankind, that people can watch animals fight each other to the death and get a thrill out of it," Dotlzer said.

He had the opportunity to witness a cockfight as a younger man, after being taken to the event by friends.

"It was the bloodiest thing I ever saw, and it sickened me," Dotzler said.

Contact Charlotte Eby at (515) 243-0138 or chareby@aol.com.