Animal Wellness Action Applauds Jasper County Sheriff and Federal Agencies for Crackdown on Major Organized Cockfighting Ring in South Carolina

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action today praised the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office and federal agencies following a major law enforcement operation on Saturday that dismantled an alleged organized cockfighting enterprise tied to broader criminal activity.

The coordinated operation was the result of a months-long investigation into a large-scale illegal network involving cockfighting, gambling, narcotics, and firearms. Authorities confirmed that numerous individuals were taken into custody and that federal partners were involved due to the scope of the operation.

“This was not just animal cruelty — it was a dangerous criminal enterprise operating in the shadows,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action. “Sheriff Malphrus and his team demonstrated exactly the kind of leadership we need nationwide to root out organized cockfighting and the violence that surrounds it.”

The sheriff’s office on Tuesday emphasized that the operation targeted criminal conduct, not individuals based on identity, stating clearly that enforcement actions were driven by evidence of illegal activity.

Animal Wellness Action noted that cockfighting is rarely an isolated crime. It is commonly linked to illegal gambling, drug trafficking, and weapons violations – factors underscored by this investigation.

“Cockfighting operations are magnets for serious criminal behavior,”Pacelle added. “By shutting down this network, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office has made the community safer for both people and animals.” For our part, Animal Wellness Action and our partners at Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) will continue to send undercover investigators into cockfighting locations to provide evidence and critical intelligence to law enforcement.

The organization also commended the courage of community members who provided information to law enforcement, helping authorities build the case.

“This case is a powerful reminder that when citizens and law enforcement work together, even entrenched criminal enterprises can be dismantled,” Pacelle said.

Animal Wellness Action and SHARK are calling for continued aggressive enforcement and passage of federal legislation to dismantle cockfighting networks permanently. At the federal level, the Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act, H.R. 3946 and S. 11454, would strengthen penalties for animal fighting, enhance federal enforcement tools, and target the organized criminal enterprises behind these operations. The bill is supported by both the South Carolina Sheriffs’ Association and the National Sheriffs’ Association, along with more than 450 other law enforcement agencies and a total of nearly 1,100 endorsing agencies and organizations. The FIGHT Act has been co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C.

Animal Wellness Action is urging prosecutors to pursue the strongest possible penalties and is calling on lawmakers to continue dedicating resources and strengthening enforcement tools against animal fighting crimes.