WASHINGTON — Animal Wellness Action applauds the swift and decisive action by Provo Police Department and other law enforcement agencies that led to the arrest of 17 individuals and the seizure of more than 50 dead roosters in a large-scale illegal cockfighting operation in Provo, Utah.
According to police, officers initiated a welfare check at a property on 1215 W. 600 South, which had a history of suspected animal-fighting activity. Aerial surveillance revealed suspicious traffic in and out of a shed, prompting a search warrant. Inside, investigators found over 100 live roosters, hundreds of hens, 50+ dead roosters in bags and trash cans, blood-stained benches, fighting “score cards,” a “winning board,” and bottles of aggression-inducing drugs – evidence of a long-running, organized, and brutal operation.
“This is exactly the kind of malicious cruelty we’re fighting to eradicate,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. “We salute the Provo Police Department for intervening before even more animals had their lives cut short by people who enjoy this savage violence. But what this case also reveals is the dire need for stronger laws in Utah. The fact that an operation of this scale could gather dozens – even hundreds – of participants shows that current penalties are not deterring cockfighters or dismantling these networks.”
Current Utah law prohibits cockfighting and other forms of animal fighting under statutes intended to prevent cruelty. A first offense is subject only to misdemeanor charges. “If someone stands to make money from gambling or bets, the current $1,000 maximum fine is just the cost of doing business,” said Pacelle.
Pacelle added, “Cockfighting is not only a horrific form of animal cruelty – it also fuels criminal activity, gambling, and public-safety risks. The presence of aggression-enhancing drugs and weapons in this bust are damning evidence that cockfighting is more than ‘just a fight’ — it is a crime enterprise. Utah lawmakers should seize this moment to strengthen penalties, expand enforcement powers, and ensure that anyone who participates in or profits from cockfighting is held fully accountable.”
Animal Wellness Action calls on the Utah County Attorney’s Office to pursue the maximum possible charges against those arrested
“Today’s arrests send a clear message: animal cruelty and underground fighting rings will not be tolerated,” Pacelle said. “But we urge state leaders to go further – to make sure that cruelty, bloodshed, and organized animal fighting have no place in Utah.”
Animal Wellness Action is working in Congress to pass the FIGHT Act, H.R. 3946 and S. 1454, to strengthen the national law against animal fighting and give local law enforcement more tools to combat animal fighting. The Utah Sheriff’s Association and 1,000 other agencies and organizations have endorsed the anti-crime, anti-cruelty, pro-agriculture legislation, along with the National Sheriffs’ Association and the National District Attorneys Association. Congressman Mike Kennedy, R-3-Alpine, is a cosponsor of the FIGHT Act.
Animal Wellness Action urges members of the public who come across any suspicious listings, posts, or events related to cockfighting – whether online or in person – to report them immediately to local law enforcement, and to contact Animal Wellness Action with any information they may have. Tips can be sent to animalcrueltytips@animalwellnessaction.org.