Bust shines light on much-needed FIGHT Act in Congress to crack down on barbaric crime
Turlock, CA — Animal Wellness Action praised the Turlock Police Department for arresting two people for multiple charges, including possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen loaded firearm, felons in possession of ammunition, possession of a controlled substance with a loaded firearm, possession of narcotics for sale, and 19 counts of animal cruelty.
The arrests stem from discovery and seizure of multiple firearms, drugs, cash and 1,000 rounds of ammunition plus 19 roosters Monday.
“We praise the Turlock Police officers for acting to interdict a suspected cockfighting operation,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action. “These cockfighters had an illegal arsenal, and it’s no surprise to see animal fighting comingled with other serious crimes.”
Pacelle’s nonprofit is at the forefront of passing the Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act to crack down on the barbaric and lawless practices of dogfighting and cockfighting.
The FIGHT Act would allow for citizen suits against perpetrators, ban online gambling on animal fights, allow for criminal forfeiture of property used to commit animal fighting crimes, and forbid the use of the U.S. mail to ship adult roosters.
The FIGHT Act has endorsements from 500 organizations and agencies, from the domains of animal welfare, law enforcement, agriculture, gaming, and conservation. No other animal welfare legislation has as much bipartisan support as H.R. 2742 and S. 1529