Alabama's governor signed legislation this week to ban the event that pits wild hogs against dogs in timed events. The law takes effect July 1.

Hog-dog rodeos were banned in Louisiana in 2004, and Mississippi last month passed a law that also becomes effective in July. Tennessee has legislation pending.

In March, the S.C. Senate passed a bill to clarify state law on field trials and ultimately get rid of hog-dog fighting.

S.C. Bill S. 229, introduced by Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Charleston, includes any contest involving dogs that harms or kills animals so the owners can make money. It does not outlaw coon, fox or bear hunting.

The bill must be passed by the House Judiciary Committee before going to the governor for final approval.

Rep. Greg Delleney, D-Chester, has not seen the state legislation, he said, but he won't support any specific ban on a legal animal sport.

"I'm certainly not going to support any bill that outlaws or endangers the privilege to hunt with dogs, which is the ultimate goal of the Humane Society of the United States," Delleney said. "However, I do not support animal fighting."

Chester County residents Arthur Parker Sr. and Mary Luther were acquitted of animal cruelty and other state charges in October.

The couple, Parker, 48, and Luther, 51, faced criminal charges for their alleged involvement in illegal animal fights called hog-dogging, which pits bulldogs against wild hogs.

Parker faces similar charges in Florida. His court case was postponed earlier this month and has not been rescheduled, Luther said.

On Dec. 17, 2004, State Law Enforcement Division officials in South Carolina raided the couple's Fort Lawn property and seized 95 dogs and 15 hogs.

A jury deliberated nearly three hours after a four-day trial at the Chester County Courthouse.

In addition to the animal fighting charge, Parker and Luther also were found not guilty of the charges of conspiracy, ill treatment of animals, possession of a dangerous animal and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. They were, however, found guilty of a lesser offense of simple possession of marijuana. Each was sentenced to a $100 fine.

Parker and Luther, founders of the International Catchdog Association, have always used dogs to hunt hogs in the wild, they testified at their trial.

A state prosecutor disagreed that catch-dog competitions are field trials, but said they are a cover for animal fighting activities.

Parker learned to hunt at age 5 with his father in the Florida woods, he said. Luther began hunting on a farm in the Pennsylvania Mountains, she said.

Both say the events they sponsor have been wrongly portrayed by critics. During the trial, Parker was asked to explain how a catch-dog competition compared to a field trial, which is used to train animals to hunt.

"A catch-dog competition is a field trial because it's an evaluation of the skill of the hunting dog. It's that simple," Parker said. "The goal of a catch-dog competition is simply for bragging rights to prove the dog with the quickest time is the best dog."

Luther, a guest Friday on satellite radio's Jay Thomas Show, said catch-dog competitions "are my life."

"It's not a rodeo, it's a hog trial," Luther said. "In no way am I going to let this big controversy that they're (state legislators) starting rattle me. This is my life."

The Jay Thomas Show is broadcast on Sirius Satellite Channel 102 Monday through Friday from 2 to 5 p.m. and replays Monday through Friday 6 to 9 a.m.

Luther expressed concerned about three death threats. Also, during past catch-dog competitions, someone threw hogs shot through the head and heart into her driveway, she said.

"I'm not slowing down and we're not doing nothing different," she said. "As far as I know, it's not against the law."

Denyse C. Middleton • 329-4069