Washington, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action (AWA) and the Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF) today asked U.S. Attorney Kenji M. Price, representing the District of Hawaii, to investigate allegations that a substantial number of residents in the state are knee-deep in the business of illegal trafficking of fighting animals and perhaps making millions of dollars from the … Read more
Animal Fighting is the Pits
The question of free expression arises in federal court actions initiated by animal fighting practitioners The First Amendment has been used as a shield by perpetrators of animal cruelty for decades. In recent federal court proceedings, cockfighters claim that staged battles between animals are a protected expression and religious exercise guaranteed by the First Amendment. … Read more
Washington, D.C. — Today, Animal Wellness Animal (AWA), the Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF), and the Center for a Humane Economy (“the Center) filed an amicus brief before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit supporting the United States in its defense of a federal law that applies all prohibitions against cockfighting to the … Read more
Louisville, KY — The Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF) and Animal Wellness Action (AWA) today announced a $5,000 reward for information resulting in successful prosecution of any individual for violating the federal law (7 U.S.C. § 2156) against animal fighting. The announcement follows the groups’ release of an extensive cockfighting investigation in Kentucky last week and … Read more
Washington, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action (AWA) and the Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF) today asked U.S. Attorneys Robert M. Duncan and Russell Coleman, respectively covering the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky, to investigate allegations that seven Kentucky residents appear to be deeply involved in illegal trafficking of fighting animals, with most of them sending birds … Read more
Around 1800 B.C., a gradual shift began from a hunter-gatherer way of life to agriculturalism, and around 900 B.C., a Mississippian culture took root in what is now known as western and central Kentucky, a vast part of the Bluegrass State. Towns with a population of around 2,000 inhabitants began to develop around the area, … Read more
Far-fetched courtroom strategies are the rage when it comes to cockfighting. It may be the down season for the blood sport, but from Puerto Rico to Louisiana to Guam, the knives are out in the federal courts when it comes to cockfighting. The most recent courtroom proceeding comes in Louisiana, where Lloyd Plumbar has mounted … Read more
Reward Comes After U.S. Attorney for the District of the Virgin Islands Announces That the United States Will Vigorously Enforce the Federal Anti-Cockfighting law Washington, D.C. — In the wake of an announcement by the U.S. Attorney for the Virgin Islands that she won’t stand by as illegal animal fighting occurs, the Animal Wellness Foundation … Read more
The supporters of Animal Wellness Action and readers of The Policy Animal have truly made a difference for our iconic American wild horses and burros in the past few weeks. Many of you read several of our most recent blogs regarding the BLM’s Draconian plan to roundup horses and burros on public lands and turn … Read more
Washington D.C. — Today Animal Wellness Action (AWA) and Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF) applauded the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS), led by Chairman Jose Serrano, D-N.Y. and Ranking Member Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., for urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to enhance its work to prosecute federal animal cruelty crimes, … Read more