CHEYENNE -- A bill that would make dogfighting a felony in Wyoming is one step away from becoming state law.

The Senate passed House Bill 46 on third and final reading Thursday and sent it to Gov. Dave Freudenthal, who said during a meeting with reporters Thursday that he intends to sign it.

The House already passed the bill, which would bring Wyoming's dogfighting penalties in line with every other state in the nation.

As a bonus, the bill will make Wyoming the 36th state in the union to make cockfighting a felony, said John Goodwin, manager of animal fighting issues for the Humane Society of the United States.

“People might say, 'Oh, you're behind on the dogs, but you're ahead of a lot of people on the roosters,'” Goodwin said.

Supporters of the bill said there are no signs of fowl fighting in Wyoming, but they wanted to send a clear message that the state does not tolerate animal abuse.

“We have joined Idaho and the rest of the nation in sending the message that we are taking a stand against dogfighting,” said Rep. Rosie Berger, R-Big Horn, who sponsored the bill.

Wyoming became the only state in the nation that considers dogfighting a misdemeanor last week when Idaho passed a more stringent law.

The Wyoming Legislature killed a similar animal abuse bill last year after livestock groups said it might cast a wide net that could include some accepted livestock practices.

Both the Idaho and Wyoming bills received a boost this year from the highly public prosecution of Atlanta Falcons star Michael Vick, who was sent to prison for charges related to a dogfighting kennel on his Virginia property.

Livestock groups agreed to support the bill this year after the sponsor stripped out all provisions that could be used to target livestock practices.

That included the removal of a provision that would have empowered local animal-control officers to pursue cases of animal abuse. Livestock groups argued that animal-control officers may lack the training to distinguish between abuse and acceptable practices.

The bill also got a boost this year from the nonprofit Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault in Laramie. Previous attempts to increase penalties for dogfighting failed in part because some lawmakers argued that it would make the penalties for dogfighting more stringent that those for domestic abuse.

Suzan Pauling, public policy director for the Laramie group, lobbied in favor of HB 46 this year, noting that there is a correlation between domestic violence and animal cruelty.

HB 46 takes effect on July 1. It increases the maximum penalty for dogfighting or cockfighting to a year in prison and a $5,000 fine.

“The Wyoming Legislature should be commended for passing a law that will help keep animal fighters out of Wyoming,” said Goodwin, of the Humane Society.

“The fact that all 50 states will soon punish dogfighting as a felony sends a very clear message to people ... that there is no refuge for this blood sport in the United States,” Goodwin added.

Reach capital bureau reporter Jared Miller at (307) 632-1244 or at {M3jared.miller@trib.com.