Statement by The HSUS on Johnson County, Kansas Cockfighting Raid

June 25, 2008

John Goodwin, manager of animal fighting issues for The Humane Society of the United States, issued the following statement in response to today's cockfighting raid by the Johnson County Sheriff's Office in Johnson County, Kansas:

"The Johnson County Sheriff's Office should be commended for its investigation and raid of a large cockfighting operation that breeds only cruelty and crime.

Kansas is one of 13 states in the nation that does not provide for felony-level penalties for staged cockfights. The states surrounding Kansas punish cockfighting as a felony, and the relatively weak law in Kansas makes it a magnet for illegal cockfighters shopping for the most favorable venue for their cruel hobby.

This raid will send a strong message that cruelty will not be tolerated. But this raid is also a reminder that cockfighting occurs in Kansas, and lawmakers in Topeka should move quickly to strengthen penalties against this blood sport."

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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org.