Willie Nelson, Dog Fighting Legislation & Georgia

Dog's Best Friend: Willie Nelson

ATLANTA (AP) - Willie Nelson is looking to become dog's best friend. The country music star has filmed a television spot supporting an anti-dogfighting bill that is moving through the Georgia Legislature.

In the ad, Nelson looks into the camera while "Georgia on My Mind" plays in the background.

"Dogfighting is against the law in Georgia, but the laws are so weak, the beautiful state of Georgia has become a haven for dogfighters from around the country," he says.

The bill would make it a felony for anyone to sell, trade or transport dogs for the purpose of dogfighting.

Utah-based Best Friends Animal Society, a national animal welfare organization, produced the piece and asked Nelson to participate.

State Sen. Chip Rogers, the bill's author, hopes to get the spot on TV and radio around the time of the Dec. 10 sentencing for suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who pleaded guilty to a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge.

The bill has passed the state Senate and will go before a House committee in January.

Hopefully, the House will follow suit. Three cheers for Willie Nelson for being on the bandwagon with this. People that are participating in this despicable form of whatever they want to call it, are lucky. If I were calling the shots, anyone caught doing this would be executed immediately.

Animalz Rule,

Bobby Sharpe www.myspace.com/akuasharpe Dragon, Book of Shang