AUGUSTA – Legislation that would have strengthened Maine’s already tough animal-fighting laws pitted local lawmakers against each other on the House floor Tuesday.

The original measure, sponsored by Rep. Dick Wagner, D-Lewiston, would have made it illegal to possess dog- or cockfighting equipment and a felony crime to be a spectator at an animal fight. The majority of House members voted against the legislation in early April, but the Senate voted last week to support an amended version.

Sen. Deb Simpson, D-Auburn, sponsored the Senate-approved amendment that would have limited the bill’s reach to “walled areas intended to be used to contain a dogfight,” or a fighting pit.

“I felt that a fighting pit would be necessary for the activity and have no other practical use,” she said. “It’s unfortunate that the House didn’t see that as a reasonable compromise.”

On Tuesday, members debated the measure again on the House floor before taking the vote that essentially killed the bill.

Most of the debate focused on whether animal fighting is a problem in Maine and the potential effectiveness of the proposal.

“We need to prevent animal fighting from taking a hold here in Maine,” Wagner said. “Proving that having a few bits of plywood that may be used for fighting pits is going to be hard. But if the threat is there, this (legislation) would be an opportunity for the animal control officers and for the law enforcement people to put the clamps on anybody doing the fighting here in the state of Maine.”

Rep. Lance Harvell, R-Farmington, said the measure would do little to find where dogfights are being held.

“We already have a law on the books. This is just a feel-good bill and it won’t go to solving the problems,” Harvell said. “The dogs that are being thrown in the Androscoggin River, they’re having these fights at this point already. There’s no indication that this bill would be able to locate where these are taking place.”

In 1999, seven dead dogs were found along the banks of the Androscoggin River by Auburn’s animal control officer. At least two of the dogs exhibited bite marks consistent with dogfighting.

Other opposition came from lawmakers concerned that the bill would target too many innocent people possessing the banned materials.

“I have four grandchildren and I have a porta-crib in my house. Can that porta-crib be a fighting pit? I feel it could be,” said Rep. Richard Sykes, R-Harrison.

The final House vote to defeat the measure was 97-49, with five members absent. Local members who voted to support the legislation were Reps. Bruce Bickford, R-Auburn; Brian Bolduc, D-Auburn; Stacy Dostie, D-Sabattus; Gary Knight, R-Livermore Falls; Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston; Larry Sirois, D-Turner; Nancy Smith, D-Monmouth; and Wagner.