Animal rights activists rallied at the State Capitol yesterday in support of five bills that would bolster animal protections in Hawai'i.

The measures include proposals that would ban dog fighting, the eating of cats and dogs, and cockfighting instruments.

State lawmakers have introduced a total of five bills in the House and Senate addressing animal cruelty and stressed that in these tough economic times, people should not forget about the valuable and nurturing roles that pets and animals play in society.

"This is about making safer communities for pets and humans alone," said Inga Gibson, state director for The Humane Society of the United States.

State Rep. John Mizuno, D-30th (Kamehameha Heights, Kalihi Valley, Fort Shafter), introduced a bill first submitted last session that would outlaw dog fighting in Hawai'i. Hawai'i currently ranks 50th in the nation, tied with Montana, for the worst dog fighting laws with no explicit penalty for attending or wagering on an animal fight, according to the Humane Society.

"We think that it's deplorable that we have dog fighting in Hawai'i," Mizuno said. "We know it happens, not only on this island but on the Neighbor Islands."

State Rep. Tom Brower, D-23rd (Waikiki, Ala Moana, Kaka'ako), introduced "Caddy's Bill," prompted by a case last year involving "Caddy," a pet dog stolen at the Moanalua Golf Course in December 2007, killed and eaten.

Saturnino "Tony" Palting, 58, and Nelson Domingo, 43, are charged in that case with first-degree cruelty to animals and second-degree theft.

They are accused of stealing a part-Australian shepherd dog owned by Frank Manuma from the Moanalua Golf Course on Dec. 16, 2007.

The men, who worked at the golf course at the time but were later fired, told a witness they took the dog for food, police said.

"To me it's a no-brainer a lot of the situations we're looking at," Brower said.

A third measure introduced in the House by state Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu, D-41st (Waipahu, Village Park, Waikele), and in the Senate by State Sen. Brian Taniguchi, D-10th (Manoa, McCully) prohibits the possession of cockfighting implements like gaffs, knives or slashers.

Pamela Burns, president of the Hawaiian Humane Society, said people need to remember to care for pets and animals.

"These are very stressful (financial) times for many people. Companion animals bring us comfort during these times," Burns said. "This would be the worst time to negate that relationship."