CHEYENNE - The Humane Society of the United States has ranked Wyoming's dogfighting laws second-to-last in terms of penalizing offenders.

The organization analyzed dogfighting laws across the country and ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia on whether they consider dogfighting events, being a spectator at such events and possession of fighting dogs to be felonies. In addition, it considered the length of jail sentences and fines imposed on those convicted of such offenses.

Idaho, Georgia, Nevada and Hawaii joined Wyoming in having the weakest dogfighting laws for allowing some aspects of the practice to go "completely unpunished and punishing others with little more than a slap on the wrist," according to a statement Wednesday by the organization.

Wyoming and Idaho, the only states in the nation where dogfighting is not a felony, ranked 50th and 51st, respectively, according to the group.

The rankings did little to sway state Senate Majority Leader John Hines, R-Gillette, who said they should not determine the state's legislative agenda.

"It's what's important to us, not some national organization," said Hines, a rancher who owns two dogs.

A proposed law to toughen penalties against animal cruelty died in the state Senate last winter.

In Wyoming, participating in dogfighting is a high misdemeanor punishable by a maximum of one year in jail and a $5,000 fine. It is a misdemeanor to be a spectator at a dogfight or to possess dogs bred and trained for fighting.