HB 3136 fails to get a hearing in its first House Committee, killing that bill. Two bills that carried over from 2023 are stalled in the Senate. Oklahoma City, OK – The latest legislative measure to unwind the state law making cockfighting a felony died an early death, with its first key committee not taking up … Read more
Animal Fighting is the Pits
78 fighting dogs rescued, indicating urgent need for federal law Washington D.C. — Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, applauds the U.S. Department of Justice in its indictments this week of 14 men from Georgia, Florida and Alabama for participating in dogfighting. These arrests are the result … Read more
Our nation’s biggest border state is an extraordinary hotspot for cockfighting, illegal movement of fighting animals over the Mexico-Texas boundary Austin, TX — Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, applauded the work to the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office for seizing 35 roosters from what appears to have … Read more
Citizen report led to animal seizures; another indicator of the need for federal law Harris County, Texas — Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, applauded the work the Harris County Pct. 1 Constable’s Office and the Houston SPCA for seizing more than 115 roosters and hens from … Read more
Hialeah man arrested for cockfighting. Animal Wellness Action notes correlation between animal fighting and other criminal activity. Hialeah, FL — Leaders of two national animal-welfare groups are applauding the work of Hialeah, Fla., police and their arrest Thursday of a local man with charges related to cockfighting. Cockfighting is a felony under state law, and … Read more
Senator Cory Booker and Reps. Josh Gottheimer, Tom Kean, Bill Pascrell, Chris Smith, and Jeff Van Drew want more enforcement capacity to cut down on rampant, gruesome dogfighting and cockfighting rings. Neptune Township, N.J. — As details emerged of a dogfighting ring discovered over the weekend in Monmouth County, Wayne Pacelle of Animal Wellness Action … Read more
Groups offer reward program as cockfighting ring discovered at Norman barn fire. Oklahoma City — Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy report that recent activities by pro-cockfighters in Oklahoma to weaken the state’s laws may be backfiring and in fact setting them back. Efforts by cockfighting supporters to persuade the Oklahoma Legislature … Read more
Santa Barbara, CA — Animal Wellness Action applauded the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors for affirming its recent vote of 4-1 to rein in illegal cockfighting breeding operations in the sprawling county. The vote on the original consideration was 4-1, with Supervisors Joan Hartman, Laura Capps, Das Williams, and Chairman Steve Lavagnino favoring the … Read more
Congress is overdue to halt live exports of horses for consumption, fighting animals for combat, mink pelts for fashion, and bear bile as a potion. Many domestic forms of animal exploitation survive, and even thrive, because the people behind these enterprises tap foreign markets for their cruelty and contraband, whether they’re peddling live animals or … Read more
Santa Barbara, CA — Animal Wellness Action applauded the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors for safeguarding the community’s quality of life and fighting cruelty to animals by approving an ordinance aimed at restricting the number of roosters allowed per property, with exemptions for legitimate agriculture operations. The vote was 4 to 1, with Supervisors … Read more