Coast-to-Coast Crackdown on Cockfighters

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The raids on cockfighting operations should relieve some of the suffering of fighting roosters.

By Ariana Huemer

Call it one of the worst weekends ever for cockfighting criminals. Arrests were made in at least six separate incidents coast to coast.

From March 14 to 16, cockfighters in California, Oregon, Washington, Texas, Minnesota and North Carolina felt the heat from law enforcement.

"Red Rooster" and "Tattered Wing"

The high point of the weekend may be the successful sting operation in the Pacific Northwest, where U.S. Marshalls arrested 63 people throughout Washington and Oregon during "Operation Red Rooster" and "Operation Tattered Wing."

The raids on the massive, multi-state cockfighting network validate the efforts of those who fought to pass the federal Animal Fighting Enforcement Prohibition Act last year, which raised federal cockfighting penalties from a misdemeanor to a felony.

It's particularly appropriate to see the strong application of the new federal law in Oregon and Washington, because legislators in those states were driving forces behind the law. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) sponsored the House version of the Animal Fighting Enforcement Prohibition Act, while Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) sponsored the Senate version.

"The federal government and local law enforcement agencies around the country are sending a strong message to cockfighters, " said John Goodwin, The HSUS's manager of animal fighting issues. "That message is that cockfighting crimes carry significant consequences, and they will be prosecuted."

Texas Takedown

Also notable is the massive March 15 bust of a cockfight in progress in Navarro County, Texas. Despite weak cockfighting laws in the state that don't penalize cockfighting event spectators, sheriff's deputies ensured that the hundreds who attended the Navarro County event got no free passes. The deputies laid gambling charges on nearly 200 people—sending a message that this form of animal cruelty will not be tolerated.

No Respite for Cockfighting Criminals

Other cockfighting busts carried out over the weekend include:

• The arrests of four men with 27 roosters packed into their SUV near Golden, Colo., on March 14. State troopers pulled over the men. The suspects reportedly stated they picked up the birds in California and were transporting them to their home state of Minnesota.
  
  
• A March 14 raid on a cockfighting pit in Riverside County, Calif. Authorities arrested one person after finding 7 dead roosters alongside a cockfighting pit. They also seized 113 live roosters.
  
  
• A March 15 bust of a cockfight in Rockingham County, N.C. Sheriff's deputies there arrested 12 people and seized 12 live birds. They also found many dead birds.
  
  
• The arrests of two people in Madera County, Calif. on cockfighting charges. At least 50 people were present at the cockfighting scene (which was being staged in an almond orchard) when deputies arrived.  

Taken together, so many anti-cockfighting activities in such a short time bodes exceedingly well for animals. Law enforcement and the public are serious about eradicating this bloodsport from the U.S., once and for all. 

Ariana Huemer is a cruelty case manager for The Humane Society of the United States.

See the Video

HSUS Undercover: Inside Animal Fighting

Related Links

Cockfighting

Animal Cruelty and Fighting Campaign

Cockfighting Fact Sheet

State Cockfighting Laws

Ranking of State Cockfighting Laws