ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - In the final few days of the General Assembly, lawmakers are scrambling to get last minute bills made into law. That includes a handful of bills dealing with animal cruelty and crimes.

Bills that would cut back on euthanasia and ban cockfighting as well as the illicit sale of animals in public are items animal rights advocates are hoping make it through the legislature. On Thursday, many groups rallied outside the state Capitol to call for more attention on animal rights and for more resources to be made available for law enforcement and shelters.

“This is something that operates in the shadows,” said Jill Hollander, a prosecutor with the Fulton County District Attorneys Office who prosecutes crimes against animals. “This type of behavior, especially because we know it does operate in the shadows, also brings with it some really dangerous things that can really tear apart communities.”

Hollander is hoping Senate Bill 102, which would ban cockfighting, soars through the legislature in its final days. Georgia is the only state in the country without a law specifically addressing cockfighting as a crime.

Hollander has been proud of the work the Fulton County District Attorneys Office has done in recent years under District Attorney Fani Willis to pay closer attention to animal crimes.

“Animal cruelty is violence, animal cruelty is a stepping stone to crimes against humans,” said Hollander. “We are starting to talk about it more, the community is recognizing that this is unacceptable and they’re reporting it.”

Willis, recognizing that animal crimes often times correlate to bigger issues of drugs, guns and trafficking, began linking those cases to elder abuse and domestic violence cases.

“Violence against human beings is a priority and when I know that they’re using the tool of hurting people’s animals, that becomes a priority as well,” said Willis. “People that are willing to hurt animals are also willing to hurt human beings.”

Copyright 2025 WANF. All rights reserved.