How to Report Suspected Cockfighting
Cock fighting is a controversial "sport' in which roosters are pitted against each other in fighting tournaments that frequently end in death. Cock fighting enthusiasts breed chickens specifically for fighting purposes and gamble on the outcome of their matches. The practice is commonly considered animal abuse and is illegal in most states. If you suspect that someone is involved in the practice of cock fighting, it's a good idea to report him to your local authorities.
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Instructions
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Look for signs of cockfighting operations. The most obvious sign would be chickens being bred and kept outside of a farm setting. Check to see whether the chickens are contained in unsafe or unsanitary conditions and inspect for untreated wounds or other signs of animal neglect.
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Gather evidence on a suspected cockfighting ring. Keep a detailed log of the suspicious things you've observed, including specific dates and time. Take pictures or videos of any relevant evidence to support your claim.
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Contact your local police department. In addition to federal laws against animal cruelty, many state and local governments have laws against cockfighting.
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Alert any local governmental agency that works to prevent cruelty to animals. Cockfighting and animal abuse can be such serious problems in some areas that local governments might have separate task forces to handle the issue. Check with your local city counsel to see whether such an agency exists in your area.
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Contact national animal-cruelty centers. The Humane Society operates shelters that rescue and care for neglected animals, including those used in competitive-fighting contests. The Humane Society's website offers tips on how to report animal cruelty (see Resources below).
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Send information on suspected cockfighting operations to non-profit organizations that expose animal cruelty. Among the most famous are PAWS and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (see Resources below).
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Follow up on all your reports to ensure that action has been taken. Especially in the case of governmental agencies, justice can move slowly. Stay in touch with these organizations and continue to keep them updated on suspected cockfighting rings.
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Tips & Warnings
Beware of the potential for retaliation when you report cock fighting. Protect yourself from potential reprisals by anonymously reporting cock fighting. More than likely, you won't have to disclose your identity to the police or media to get authorities to take action against a cock fighting ring.
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Comments
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I lost my husband because someone in tenn. is raising fighting cocks.my husband caught a rotten sickness in his lungs that made him suffer and die a very hard death. imagine your lungs hardening like cement and in so much pain you can't get to the bathroom and your family has to watch as they wither away not being able to eat or breath. then signing a paper so the doctors can pull the plug. I hope all you dirty rotten life hating people think about others you hurt!
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mike805
Aug 28, 2009
Remember it's legal to have gamefowl if they are for breeding or show purposes, just because you see someone has chickens you shouldn't assume they are for fighting, fighting comes natural to many breeds, like it comes natural to beta fish and to many other animals, it's part of their territorial insticts. They aren't taught to fight or anything. Modern Game Bantams, Modern Game Large, OE bantams, American Game Bantams, OE Large, American Game, Oriental, Aseels and many others have to be kept separate from around 8 months old. Do you your homework first before anyone goes around reporting inocent people who might just have the birds for hobby, as hard as it is to believe there are people that enjoy the Poultry Show circuit and love these birds without the need to fight them. Also when you hear from the Humane Society, that the the birds have to be euthenized because they can't be ... -
rito79
Apr 27, 2009
I have justed a little to say about gamecocks I been around gamefowls all life I just why it is ok for a cowboy to ride a horse with spurs on an cutt the horse's ribs an but that is ok right not!!!!!!!!!!! or when cowboy cutts a bull"s horn and getts fever is that ok not!!!!!!so you see the way I look at it !!! Not this about the dog fighting is wrong it is like hearing a baby crying
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cragli
Nov 28, 2008
A friend in Lompoc, California reported cockfighting on her street and the cops refused to do anything about it. But then they don't do anything about anything.
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dannysgamefarm
Jun 08, 2008
I am amazed how many idiots their are out there that are willing to write an article to stop something that was brought to our country by our ancestors. Cockfighting has been a sport all over the world. It was even a sport of the presidents. The gamecock almost made the national bird over the bald eagle. Doesn't that tell america how important the gamefowl are. Without cockers testing the gamefowl for their abilitys they would no longer be considered gamefowl. Gamefowl are different than the ordinary laying chickens. They are bred to be stronger than the rest and more disease resistant. If something happens to the layers who do you think will be there to help them get eggs and stuff going. What if theirs a huge disease outbreak such as avian influenza. Gamefowl are most likely going to have a better chance at getting through it due to their strong genes and health. We would be the breede
