West Virginia Cockfighting Raid Highlights Need for Stronger Penalties

April 2, 2008

In the wake of this weekend's cockfighting raid in McDowell County, W. Va., which resulted in nearly 50 people facing misdemeanor charges, The Humane Society of the United States urges West Virginia legislators to increase the penalties for cockfighting during the next legislative session. This is the second time in just over a year that McDowell County has been in the spotlight for being a hotbed of illegal cockfighting. In December 2006, 32 people were charged with misdemeanors for cockfighting in McDowell County.

"We commend the state police and law enforcement agencies for their vigilance in enforcing the existing cockfighting statute," said John Goodwin, manager of animal fighting issues for The HSUS. "The fact that two cockfighting raids occurred in the same county within a 15-month period clearly shows that current penalties are not a deterrent to cockfighters. These crimes will occur over and over again, in the same locations, until West Virginia's law is no longer deficient in dealing with this lucrative, organized, criminal conduct." 

During the last legislative session, two different bills that would have increased the penalties for cockfighting were introduced. Unfortunately, the bills died when the state legislative session ended this past March.

The House bill, H.B. 2737 sponsored by Del. John Overington, R- Berkeley, would have made possession of an animal for the purpose of fighting, participating in, or allowing one's premises to be used for cockfighting a felony. Additionally, it would have also made possession of animal fighting implements a felony.

On the Senate side, Sen. Jeffrey Kessler, D-Marshall, sponsored a bill which would have attacked animal fighting at its revenue stream, illegal gambling. S.B. 566 would have made it a felony to wager on an animal fight, as well as to conduct, finance, manage, supervise, direct, lease or own all or a part of a business or premises involving betting or wagering on an animal fight with the knowledge that the betting or wagering is occurring. 

About Cockfighting:

• Tens of thousands of people are involved in cockfighting nationwide.
• Common cockfighting practices include breeding birds for viciousness, drugging them to heighten aggression and fitting their legs with razor-sharp knives or gaffs resembling ice picks.
• Law enforcement raids across the country have revealed that cockfights, which are frequently attended by children, involve illegal gambling and — as a result of the large amount of cash present — firearms and other weapons are also often present.
• Law enforcement officials have documented a strong connection between cockfighting and the distribution of illegal drugs. 

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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.