In an undercover investigation this month, The Humane Society of the United States documented a massive, illegal cockfighting operation in Williamsburg, Ky., in the southeastern part of the state, near the Tennessee border.
More than 400 participants from several states, including Tennessee, Michigan and South Carolina, came to the "Sally Gap" cockfighting pit to fight birds and gamble on the matches Feb. 3. The HSUS estimated there were more than 500 birds at the derby and that hundreds of thousands of dollars were gambled and collected in entry fees. Young children were also at the event, some seen exchanging money.
The "Sally Gap" cockfighting pit came to the attention of The HSUS when it was advertised for sale in "The Gamecock"—a nationally circulated cockfighting magazine. The owner of "Sally Gap," Johnny Baird, is shown in the ad waving from inside the pit. Baird told HSUS investigators over the phone that cockfighters who used to go to the Del Rio cockfighting pit in Cocke County, Tenn., now come to his pit. The Del Rio pit was raided by the FBI in June 2005 and is no longer active. Two former owners of the Del Rio pit recently pled guilty in federal court to a range of charges in January.
"By all evidence, this enormous, illegal cockfighting pit that drew in hundreds of people from several states operated without even the slightest fear of law enforcement," said Ann Chynoweth, director of the animal cruelty and fighting campaign for The HSUS. "Indeed, the owner was brazen enough to advertise his operation in a nationally circulated cockfighting magazine. Our investigation of the 'Sally Gap' cockfighting pit documents not only the bloody cruelty of this barbaric activity, but also the clear need to strengthen both state and federal law to put an end to this cruel, criminal industry."
It is a misdemeanor violation in Kentucky to participate in cockfighting or to be a spectator at a cockfight. It is a violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act to transport animals across state lines for the purpose of fighting.
Federal legislation is currently being considered by the U.S. Congress to make it a felony to transport any animal over state lines for an animal fighting venture. H.R. 137, the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, has 297 cosponsors in the House of Representatives. Its Senate companion, S. 261, has 21 cosponsors.
