MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, issued the following statement regarding the recent arrest of 42 individuals in connection with an illegal cockfighting operation in southwest Miami-Dade:
“Cockfighting is a grotesque and archaic form of cruelty that has no place in any community,” Pacelle said. “These organized fights are not just spectacles of suffering — they are closely tied to illegal gambling, drug trafficking, and other criminal activities. We applaud the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office for its swift and forceful action to shut down this operation and bring those responsible to justice.”
The arrest of 42 individuals and seizure of 72 roosters underscores the persistence of underground animal fighting rings across the country, even in the face of clear state and federal prohibitions. The presence of nearly $40,000 in seized cash at the scene highlights the entrenched nature of the criminal enterprise.
“We urge lawmakers to support the Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act, which would provide additional tools for law enforcement to crack down on animal fighting and its associated crimes,” added Pacelle. “By strengthening enforcement, we can stop this brutality and better protect both animals and public safety.”
Legislation in Congress: S. 1454 — the FIGHT Act
Animal Wellness Action is urging Florida lawmakers, including Sens. Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, as well as members of the state’s congressional delegation, to cosponsor the bipartisan Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act, led by Sens. John Kennedy (R-La.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Reps. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), and Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.). The legislation is endorsed by the National Sheriffs’ Association, the National District Attorneys Association, the United Egg Producers, and the American Gaming Association.
A fact sheet on the FIGHT Act is available here.