CHEYENNE - The House today approved on second reading a bill that would make dogfighting a felony in Wyoming.

House Bill 46, sponsored by Rep. Rosie Berger, R-Big Horn, would elevate dogfighting to the status of felony animal cruelty, with a maximum punishment of two years' imprisonment and a $5,000 fine.

Wyoming became the only state where dogfighting is a misdemeanor when the Idaho Legislature made it a felony there last week.

Initial concern that the Wyoming bill might interfere with accepted livestock practices disappeared when Berger agreed to strip down the bill to address only dogfighting and cockfighting, which would also be a felony.

The bill now moves to third and final reading in the House.