Groups say online marketplace for handmade and vintage goods should not be trafficking cockfighting gaffs – a felony offense under federal law WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Center for a Humane Economy and Animal Wellness Action have issued a formal demand letter to Etsy, the popular web-based marketplace for handmade and vintage goods, urging the company … Read more
Animal Fighting is the Pits
Johnson is a repeat offender, and the jury rejected his false claim that he was simply a dog breeder. Possession of animals for fighting purposes is a felony under both state and federal law. WASHINGTON, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action today applauded the federal jury’s guilty verdict in the case of former NFL player LeShon … Read more
Press Release Yet the sheriff’s office failed to investigate after field investigators with the organizations reported malicious abuse at a cockfighting derby, missing a chance to apprehend dozens involved in felony cruelty and other crimes in Allegan County last Saturday. Allegan, Mich. — Reacting to an investigation on Saturday conducted by their field personnel that includes … Read more
Press Release ATHENS, TX — Acting on a tip from Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK), the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office raided a major cockfighting operation near Athens on Sunday, July 13th. Authorities disrupted an illegal cockfighting event attended by an estimated 200–300 people, many of whom fled the scene on foot through nearby woods. Law … Read more
Press Release MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas — After conducting an undercover investigation on the evening of July 4 of a cockfighting derby in progress and tipping local authorities to the illegal event, Animal Wellness Action and Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) today issued a joint statement applauding the Titus County Sheriff’s Office for its swift action … Read more
Press Release The two organizations uncovered an enormous derby in March at the same location, but no action was taken at that event. The groups also documented two other cockfighting derbies in Kaufman County on July 5 Mount Pleasant, Texas — Animal Wellness Action and Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) applauded the Titus County Sheriff … Read more
TULSA, Okla. – Animal Wellness Action is calling on federal, state and Cherokee Nation law enforcement authorities to bring criminal charges against the top officials of the Oklahoma Gamefowl Commission (OGC) and a cockfight pit owner following damning video evidence showing their participation in two illegal cockfighting events in McIntosh County in June 2025. Animal Wellness Action also sent … Read more
AL — Federal, state, and local law enforcement raided a cockfighting pit on Saturday night where staged fights were in progress and rounded up 75 individuals in Blount County, Ala., including citizens illegally in the country and who were part of a cockfighting syndicate in the Yellowhammer State. Animal Wellness Action provided intelligence on the criminal … Read more
IBERIA PARISH, La. — A former Jeanerette police chief has charged with cock fighting in Beauregard Parish, according to Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office. Dusty Vallot, 39, of Lafayette, was arrested and charged with cockfighting and aggravated cruelty to animals, deputies said. There have been multiple cockfighting busts in Louisiana recently, underscoring the widespread underground animal fighting network … Read more
New calls for state investigations come after Anthony Devore and Blake Pearce were exposed for violating state and federal laws against cockfighting OKLAHOMA CITY — Animal Wellness Action is renewing its 2023 call for the Oklahoma Ethics Commission to launch a formal investigation into the Oklahoma Gamefowl Commission’s disregard for Oklahoma campaign finance laws, with … Read more