Press Release
- For Immediate Release:
- Contact:
- Lindsey von Busch
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Animal Protection Groups Praise Swift Law Enforcement Response to Halloween Cockfight in Hill County
130 gamefowl rescued after investigators exposed a large nighttime cockfight near Itasca.
ITASCA — Animal Wellness Action, SHARK (Showing Animals Respect and Kindness), and God Bless the Dogs thank the Hill County Sheriff’s Office and Texas State Troopers for responding quickly on Halloween night to break up a large cockfight on FM 934 near Itasca.
Investigators from the three organizations exposed the cockfight in progress. Approximately 70 participants fled the cockfighting pit building when officers arrived, and 130 gamefowl were rescued. The investigation remains ongoing.
“We thank the Hill County Sheriff’s Office and Texas State Troopers for acting swiftly to interrupt this spectacle of animal cruelty,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action. “Cockfighting is a scourge that persists because people organize it, finance it, and provide venues for this savage behavior. A determined and lightning-quick response from law enforcement protects animals and sends an unmistakable message that these spectacles will not be tolerated.”
The organizations emphasized that the rescue of 130 birds underscores the scale of the operation and the importance of investigating those responsible for organizing and facilitating it.
“This response shows what can happen when animal protection investigators and law enforcement each do their part,” Pacelle added. “We appreciate the officers’ work and their continued investigation.”
Animal Wellness Action is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(4) whose mission is to help animals by promoting laws and regulations at federal, state and local levels that forbid cruelty to all animals. The group also works to enforce existing anti-cruelty and wildlife protection laws. Animal Wellness Action believes helping animals helps us all. Twitter: @AWAction_News
Center for a Humane Economy is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) whose mission is to help animals by helping forge a more humane economic order. The first organization of its kind in the animal protection movement, the Center encourages businesses to honor their social responsibilities in a culture where consumers, investors, and other key stakeholders abhor cruelty and the degradation of the environment and embrace innovation as a means of eliminating both. The Center believes helping animals helps us all. Twitter: @TheHumaneCenter
Animal Wellness Foundation is a Los Angeles-based private charitable organization with a mission of helping animals by making veterinary care available to everyone with a pet, regardless of economic ability. We organize rescue efforts and medical services for dogs and cats in need and help homeless pets find a loving caregiver. We are advocates for getting veterinarians to the front lines of the animal welfare movement; promoting responsible pet ownership; and vaccinating animals against infectious diseases such as distemper. We also support policies that prevent animal cruelty and that alleviate suffering. We believe helping animals helps us all.
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130 gamefowl rescued after investigators exposed a large nighttime cockfight near Itasca.
ITASCA — Animal Wellness Action, SHARK (Showing Animals Respect and Kindness), and God Bless the Dogs thank the Hill County Sheriff’s Office and Texas State Troopers for responding quickly on Halloween night to break up a large cockfight on FM 934 near Itasca.
Investigators from the three organizations exposed the cockfight in progress. Approximately 70 participants fled the cockfighting pit building when officers arrived, and 130 gamefowl were rescued. The investigation remains ongoing.
“We thank the Hill County Sheriff’s Office and Texas State Troopers for acting swiftly to interrupt this spectacle of animal cruelty,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action. “Cockfighting is a scourge that persists because people organize it, finance it, and provide venues for this savage behavior. A determined and lightning-quick response from law enforcement protects animals and sends an unmistakable message that these spectacles will not be tolerated.”
The organizations praised responding officers for taking immediate action after investigators brought the active cockfight to their attention.
“Our investigators exposed animals being put in harm’s way, and law enforcement moved quickly to stop it,” said Steve Hindi of SHARK. “We are grateful to the deputies and state troopers who responded. Cockfighting turns suffering into entertainment, and the people behind these operations depend on secrecy. Exposing these pits and holding those responsible accountable are essential to ending this cruelty.”
The organizations emphasized that the rescue of 130 birds underscores the scale of the operation and the importance of investigating those responsible for organizing and facilitating it.
“This response shows what can happen when animal protection investigators and law enforcement each do their part,” Pacelle added. “We appreciate the officers’ work and their continued investigation.”
Animal Wellness Action is 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. 1454, 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 Sheriffs’ Association of Texas 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.
Animal Wellness Action also encourages anyone with information about illegal cockfighting operations to report suspicious activities to local law enforcement authorities or to tips@animalwellnessaction.org.