Association endorses ACE Act, FIGHT Act, and No Flight, No Fight Act to strengthen law enforcement tools against criminal enterprises
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Pennsylvania Sheriffs’ Association, representing sheriffs in all 67 counties across the Commonwealth, is urging members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation to support three bipartisan measures designed to strengthen law enforcement efforts against organized animal fighting and the criminal enterprises associated with it.
In a letter sent to Pennsylvania’s members of Congress, the association endorsed the Animal Cruelty Enforcement (ACE) Act (H.R. 1477), the Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act (H.R. 3946/S. 1454), and the No Flight, No Fight Act (H.R. 7371).
“Organized animal fighting is not a standalone crime,” said James E. Ott, sheriff of Blair County and president of the Pennsylvania Sheriffs’ Association. “Time and again, law enforcement investigations reveal connections to illegal gambling, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, illegal firearms, and other forms of organized criminal activity. These bills provide practical tools that will help law enforcement agencies dismantle criminal networks and improve public safety.”
“Animal fighting is always linked to illegal gambling, drug trafficking, or other criminal activity, and Congress should pass these measures to give law enforcement the tools we need to better combat these dangerous enterprises and protect our communities,” said James Custer, sheriff of Fayette County.
The association cited a May 2026 cockfighting raid in Chester, Pennsylvania, where law enforcement authorities arrested 25 individuals, recovered more than 50 birds, seized cash, and uncovered evidence of an organized cockfighting operation operating from a warehouse. The investigation required coordination among the Pennsylvania State Police, Chester City Police Department, the Pennsylvania SPCA, and regional tactical response personnel.
According to the Pennsylvania Sheriffs’ Association, the Chester case demonstrates that organized animal fighting remains an ongoing threat to public safety throughout Pennsylvania and across the nation.
“These criminal enterprises routinely cross state lines, rely on interstate transportation and communications networks, and exploit gaps in enforcement that can only be addressed through strong federal partnerships,” Ott wrote in the letter.
The ACE Act would establish a dedicated Animal Cruelty Crimes section within the U.S. Department of Justice to improve enforcement of federal animal cruelty and animal fighting laws. The FIGHT Act would strengthen federal enforcement tools by targeting gambling associated with animal fighting, expanding criminal forfeiture authority, and providing additional mechanisms to disrupt criminal enterprises. The No Flight, No Fight Act would prohibit the shipment of roosters through the U.S. mail for animal fighting purposes, closing a loophole used by traffickers to move fighting animals domestically and internationally.
Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action, praised the Pennsylvania Sheriffs’ Association for its leadership on the issue.
“The Pennsylvania Sheriffs’ Association recognizes what law enforcement officers across America have seen for decades — organized animal fighting is closely tied to broader criminal activity and poses significant threats to public safety,” Pacelle said. “The endorsement of these measures by sheriffs representing every county in Pennsylvania sends a powerful message that Congress should provide law enforcement with the tools needed to combat these criminal enterprises.”
The Pennsylvania Sheriffs’ Association noted that support for the legislation extends well beyond the animal welfare community. Nationally, the bills have earned endorsements from the National Sheriffs’ Association, Major County Sheriffs of America, the National District Attorneys Association, numerous statewide sheriffs’ associations, prosecutors’ organizations, and other law enforcement leaders.
“As public servants charged with protecting our communities, we believe Congress should provide law enforcement with every reasonable tool available to combat organized criminal enterprises,” Ott wrote. “The ACE Act, FIGHT Act, and No Flight, No Fight Act represent practical, bipartisan solutions that will strengthen public safety, support law enforcement investigations, and help dismantle criminal networks that profit from cruelty and violence.”
The Pennsylvania Sheriffs’ Association urged Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation to cosponsor and advance all three measures.