Spectators stir, unroll wads of cash, and finish up their side bets as a pulley lowers two roosters in a partitioned plastic cage from the ceiling and into a center pit. That pit is encircled by dozens of men standing 10 rows deep, behind a two-foot-high wall. It’s a steeply sloped arena, so that all … Read more
Columbia, SC — Today, Animal Wellness Action (AWA) and the Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF) announced a $5,000 reward for information resulting in the successful prosecution of any individual for violating state or federal law (7 U.S.C. § 2156) against animal fighting. The announcement follows a raid last week in Spartanburg County where authorities arrested three men, and Georgia … Read more
Dozens of major cockfighting kingpins continue to operate in the Sooner State Oklahoma City — Animal Wellness Action (AWA) applauded Bryan County Sheriff Johnny Christian and a local tipster for collaborating to put a stop to a major cockfight in Allison that occurred on Saturday night. According to the sheriff’s office, 200 to 300 individuals … Read more
Group Applauds Lundberg Bill After Major Investigation Reveals Tennesseans Among Top Traffickers of Fighting Birds to Guam, Mexico, and the Philippines Washington, D.C. — Today, leaders at Animal Wellness Action (AWA) and the Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF) applauded Tennessee State Senator Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, for announcing that he’ll carry legislation this year in Nashville to crack … Read more
Las Vegas, NV — Today, Animal Wellness Action (AWA) and the Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF) announced a $5,000 reward for information resulting in the successful prosecution of any individual for violating state or federal law (7 U.S.C. § 2156) against animal fighting. The announcement follows a recent raid in Las Vegas where 300 gamecocks were … Read more
Raleigh, NC — Animal Wellness Action (AWA) and the Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF) announced a $5,000 reward for information resulting in successful prosecution of any individual for violating state or federal law (7 U.S.C. § 2156) against animal fighting. The announcement follows an extensive cockfighting investigation released last month by the organizations that revealed widespread trafficking … Read more
There’s been progress against animal cruelty in Guam and Puerto Rico, but there are still troubling actions by some political leaders in both U.S. territories. It’s past due for them, including Puerto Rico’s newly elected governor, to show leadership and make it plain that illegal animal fighting must stop on the islands. Earlier this month, … Read more
Court Ruling Recognizes Animal Wellness Action and Invokes Language and Facts from our Pleadings in the Case It’s just about the end of the line for America’s cockfighting industry in the states and territories. Yesterday, a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed the constitutionality of the federal law … Read more
Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed the constitutionality of the federal law against animal fighting as applied to Puerto Rico, removing any thread of an argument that cockfighters in the Commonwealth can continue to legally stage animal fights there. “We affirm the district court’s decision and hold that Section … Read more
Groups allege North Carolina retains an extensive network of illegal cockfighting operations Washington, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action (AWA) and the Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF) today asked North Carolina’s three U.S. Attorneys to launch an investigation into a substantial network of individuals throughout the state who are alleged to be knee-deep in the business of illegal … Read more