Reward offered for tips on animal fighting in Minn.

St. Paul, Minn. — (AP) - Various Minnesota law enforcement agencies are teaming up with the Humane Society of the United States to fight dogfighting and cockfighting.

The society is offering up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in illegal animal fighting.

Jill Fritz is Minnesota state director for The Humane Society. She says cockfighting and dogfighting are cruel blood sports that hurt both animals and the surrounding communities.

They are also illegal. Cockfighting and dogfighting are felonies in Minnesota, punishable by imprisonment of at least one year and one day.

The new reward for information was announced at a news conference Friday at the state Capitol.

Organizers say the reward program has been made possible through a grant from the Holland M. Ware Charitable Foundation.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)