AWA Investigation Shows Brisk Movement of Fighting Animals to Mexico, Close Associations with Major Alabama Cockfighting Players New Mexico continues to be a major hub for cockfighting, with a network of cockfighters staging fights at pits in the Land of Enchantment, according to a 21-page investigative report released days ago by Animal Wellness Action (AWA) and the … Read more
Several New Mexicans are doing business with Alabama cockfighters targeted in federal probe (Washington, D.C.) – Though lawmakers outlawed the practice 14 years ago, New Mexico continues to be a major hub for cockfighting, with a network of cockfighters staging fights at pits and trafficking animals for fights across state and national lines, according to … Read more
Announcement Comes After Solid Evidence Emerges of Illegal Fighting and Mass Transports of Fighting Animals to the Island WASHINGTON, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action (AWA) and the Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF) have renewed their offer of a $5,000 reward to any individual providing information leading to the federal prosecution and conviction of any individual involved in illegal … Read more
“We have solid evidence that fighting birds are being shipped to Guam. The government of Guam has a duty to examine our findings and no longer play a role as intermediary in these felony violations of the law.” WASHINGTON, D.C. — The two top shippers of fighting roosters to Guam in 2021 – Bill McNatt (750 birds) … Read more
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The illegal movement of fighting animals from U.S. states to Guam has dramatically increased during the first six months of this year, according to shipping records from the Guam Department of Agriculture (GDOA) recently obtained and reviewed by Animal Wellness Action (AWA) and the Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF). There was an increase in … Read more
Federal action comes a year after Animal Wellness Action released a report featuring Brent Easterling and other Alabamians involved in trafficking of fighting animals Washington, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action (AWA) and the Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF) applauded federal law enforcement authorities, including the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office … Read more
Puerto Rico, Guam political leaders abetting illegal cockfighting A key portion of the Animal Welfare Act (Act) has weathered multiple legal challenges from cockfighters and dogfighters who argued that the federal government lacks the authority to restrict animal fighting. Each of the five amendments to Section 26 of the Act (relating to “animal fighting ventures”) … Read more
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Supreme Court should deny a writ of certiorari, filed on June 11th, from a coalition of illegal cockfighting enthusiasts in Puerto Rico and allow a series of unanimous federal court rulings to stand that declare that no part of the United States should be a refuge for staged animal fights. … Read more
Dozens of Cockfighting Arenas, Hundreds of Major Cockfighting Breeding Operations Continue to Operate in Oklahoma Oklahoma City — Animal Wellness Action (AWA) applauded Cleveland County Sheriff Chris Amason and his deputies for putting a stop to a major cockfight in Noble. This bust comes weeks after a bust in Bryan County that caught as many as … Read more
Washington, D.C. — Puerto Rico must recognize the authority of the Congress and the federal courts when it comes to animal cruelty, specifically the barbaric practice of cockfighting, argued Animal Wellness Action in the wake of a vitally important hearing before the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee relating to the idea of Puerto Rico becoming … Read more
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
Advocates must demand President-Elect Biden Come Out of the Gate Strong on Animal Welfare With no major animal welfare initiatives launched by humane organizations on any statewide election ballots for the first time in 30 years, the national election was nonetheless enormously consequential for animals, with Joe Biden appearing to be on his way to … Read more
Illegal animal fighting receding on Guam but it has not yet been eliminated Washington, D.C. — The illegal movement of fighting animals from U.S. states to Guam has dramatically declined during the last year, according to shipping records from the Guam Department of Agriculture (GDOA) and recently obtained and reviewed by Animal Wellness Action (AWA) … Read more
Guam-Based Federal Judge Rules the United States Has Properly Exercised Its Authority to Ban Animal Fighting Yesterday, a United States District Court judge on Guam swatted away a legal challenge to the national prohibition on dogfighting and cockfighting, just 10 months after this new provision became the law of the land. That amendment to the … Read more
Ruling Upholds the Authority of the United States to Outlaw Animal Fighting in U.S. Territories and in the States HAGÅTÑA, GUAM — The United States District Court for the District of Guam today turned aside a legal challenge to a 2018 amendment to the Animal Welfare Act of 1966 that made illegal the practice of pitting animals against … Read more
Press Release Campaign calls for enforcement of laws against cockfighting and live-lure training, urges new state policy against private ownership of dangerous exotic wildlife Oklahoma City, OK — Cruelty Isn’t OK, a statewide campaign to end the abuse of captive big cats, illegal cockfighting, and live-lure greyhound training, was launched today by a coalition of key … Read more
Bipartisan Group in the U.S. House Introduced Identical Measure Two Weeks Ago While plenty of perpetrators of cruelty do their deeds in the shadows, others are brazen about the abuse they heap on animals. In Shelbyville, the Tennessee Walking Horse Celebration flaunted show horses earlier this month, with the equines festooned with medieval-looking wear, throwing … Read more
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
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
Federal law bans possessing birds for fighting, and these breeding operators are illegal operators sitting right out in the open Just a couple of weeks ago, federal authorities raided a major cockfight in Georgia, arresting 178 spectators and the organizers at these gladiator-style fight. Officials seized 800 roosters before the inevitable injury and death that … Read more
Washington, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action (AWA), the Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF), and Tennessee State Senator Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, today asked U.S. Attorneys J. Douglas Overbey and Donald Q. Cochran, respectively covering the Eastern and Middle Districts of Tennessee, to investigate allegations that nine Tennesseans appear to be deeply involved in illegal trafficking of fighting animals, … Read more
The era of disregarding animal welfare laws cannot end soon enough Reports from China this week are delivering a dose of heartbreak and how-can-it-happen. Dog meat traders are butchering terrified and terrorized dogs at the infamous Yulin festival, selling their parts to buyers in defiance of a new Chinese regulation that reclassified dogs from “livestock” to … Read more
Group Offers $5,000 Reward for Info that Leads to Animal Fighting Arrests, Convictions BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA — 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 … Read more
Animal Wellness Investigations Exposing Vast Network of Animal Fighting Operations in Alabama and Oklahoma Last fall, Animal Wellness Action launched a campaign to banish cockfighting in the territories, the last semi-legal outposts allowing staged fights in the nation. Puerto Rico had more than 100 fighting arenas. Guam had bustling venues, too, including “The Dome,” where … Read more
Press Release Investigation Reveals Criminal Enterprises Continue Washington, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action (AWA) and the Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF) today asked U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town to investigate allegations of ongoing cockfighting activity in Alabama, including trafficking of game birds to Guam, a U.S. Territory. The request for action follows an investigation by AWA and … Read more
Oklahoma City — Former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson is asking U.S. Attorney Brian J. Kuester to investigate allegations of ongoing trafficking of birds to Guam for cockfighting, for illegally possessing fighting animals, and perhaps engaging in other conduct at odds with state and federal law. Mr. Kuester, based in Muskogee, has jurisdiction for the Eastern District of … Read more
Nature — by that, I mean the Earth’s crust and atmosphere, its five kingdoms of living organisms, water and fire and rock, the effects of the sun and moon, and all other interrelated parts and processes — is more than a mere backdrop for the human experience. It is, and has always been, central to … Read more
In what constitutes perhaps the riskiest imaginable practice when it comes to animal-to-human disease transmission, some cockfighters are known to put the head of a rooster in their mouth to suck airway secretions from the injured and exhausted animal. For the cockfighter, sucking up the blood and other secretions from the lungs and other air … Read more
In light of the Coronavirus Pandemic, It’s Common Sense to Crack Down on Reckless and Economically Insignificant Animal-Use Enterprises Such as Live Animal Markets and Cockfights WASHINGTON, D.C. — There are reports from Guam indicating that cockfighting has dramatically waned since the federal ban went into effect on December 20th. Today, Animal Wellness Action and the Animal … Read more
Washington, D.C. — This week, the United States, Animal Wellness Action (AWA) and the Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF) submitted their respective arguments to the U.S. District Court in Guam and urged the federal judge presiding in the case to reject the arguments that the law extending animal fighting to the territories is unconstitutional as argued … Read more
Federal Law Is Brazenly Defied, Even by Politicians Rightly Pleading for Federal Disaster Relief (Washington, D.C.) — Dozens of citizens of Puerto Rico are writing to Animal Wellness Action (AWA) to alert the organization to illegal cockfighting activities on the island, signaling their own opposition to the bloody spectacles and reminding the nation that cockfighters … Read more
Here we go again. China’s “wet markets” have triggered one more global health epidemic. Wet markets are open-air abattoirs, offering up dozens of species of live animals, including fish in tanks and wildlife in crates, for selection and slaughter by those with an appetite for biodiversity. These pop-up butcheries, with animals jammed in cages and … Read more
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF) and Animal Wellness Action (AWA) today provided a preview of its 30-second television advertisement to air during Sunday’s Super Bowl on Guam. The ad features two Guamanians of Chamorro descent who describe cockfighting as “about gambling, not about our culture” and ending “the medieval practice of having animals … Read more