SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy today applauded the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors for considering an ordinance to regulate rooster ownership, a measure designed to curb illegal cockfighting, reduce noise disruptions, and promote responsible animal care. Both organizations look forward to assisting county officials through public testimony, outreach and expert guidance with review, final approval, and enactment of the ordinance. Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK), which has a partnership with Animal Wellness Action to rid the nation of cockfighting, has also endorsed the measure.
Last year, Santa Barbara County became the 20th county in the state to adopt restrictions on cockfighting, complementing state and federal laws that prohibit the activity. All major counties in Southern California and a substantial number of Northern California counties, including Monterey, San Joaquin, Solano, Sutter and Yuba, have adopted similar ordinances.
The proposed ordinance would restrict the number of roosters allowed on residential properties in unincorporated areas, with exemptions for legitimate agricultural, educational, or exhibition purposes.
“Sacramento County has a documented problem with illegal cockfighting, and this ordinance may be the very best way to address that problem,” said Eric Sakach, senior animal-fighting consultant with Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. “This ordinance will prevent backyard cockfighting operations and reduce the harm these practices cause to both animals and the community.” A court-certified expert on animal fighting, Sakach is a resident of Sacramento County and perhaps the nation’s premier expert on cockfighting, with more than 40 years of experience in the subject.
Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, highlighted the ordinance’s preventive value. “By enforcing these limits on the front end, Sacramento County can stop the problem before a fight ever occurs, rather than responding after the cruelty and chaos are in progress or completed,” said Pacelle.
“This ordinance not only combats cruelty, but it will make Sacramento County safer, since animal fighting is bound up with illegal gambling, narcotics trafficking, and other crimes.”
“It is especially important for counties to take action because state lawmakers have been reluctant to make cockfighting a felony,” added Pacelle. “California is the only Western state without felony-level penalties for cockfighting and cockfighters have flocked to the state and take their chances that they’ll just get a slap on the wrist if they break the law.”
A fact sheet on California cockfighting can be found here.