Gruesome incident is another indicator of the need for federal law to eradicate illegal staged animal fighting, animal welfare groups say
Santa Cruz County, California — Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, applauded the work of Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office for uncovering a cockfighting ring with 200 roosters found mutilated with knives attached to their legs.
During a welfare check, deputies discovered the pit, sought a search warrant and returned with animal control. Investigators also found 10 firearms, according to a Sheriff’s Office release.
“Cockfighting is cruel and barbaric, and it is always bound up with other crimes,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action, which is leading a national campaign against staged animal fighting. “We applaud the Santa Cruz County Sheriffs’ Office and animal control officers for their work on this case. We must have a zero-tolerance policy for staged animal fights.”
Officials are asking anyone with information to contact deputy Drew Renwick at [email protected] or deputy Jeffrey Eisner at [email protected]
Local enforcement must have better enforcement tools and stronger laws to eradicate animal fighting, and the federal FIGHT Act delivers them, by banning on-line gambling on dogfights and cockfights; prohibiting shipping adult fighting roosters through the U.S. mail, strengthening forfeiture authority for fighting pits and properties used to conduct these cruel activities; and allowing private rights of action against dogfighters and cockfighters in the absences of federal law enforcement.
More than 625 organizations and law enforcement agencies already endorse The FIGHT Act, including the National Sheriffs’ Association and National District Attorneys Association.
“I consider passing the FIGHT Act in Congress as urgent a priority as we have at Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy,” Pacelle said.