JACKSON, Miss. — Jackson Police Department Chief Malcom McMillin, State Rep. Cecil Brown, D-Jackson, and Deputy Attorney General Onetta Whitley joined The Humane Society of the United States to combat cockfighting and dogfighting in Mississippi. At a press conference held today at the Jackson Police Department, they announced that The Humane Society of the United States is offering up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person involved in illegal animal fighting.
"Cockfighting and dogfighting are both horribly cruel blood sports," said Dale Bartlett, deputy manager of animal cruelty for The Humane Society of the United States. "The criminals who train animals to fight to the death — for nothing more than to gamble and feed their own sick sense of entertainment — must be brought to justice."
Cockfighting and dogfighting are crimes in Mississippi. Cockfighting is a misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum $500 fine and dogfighting is a felony, punishable by up to three years of imprisonment and/or a maximum $5,000 fine.
Animal fighting "contests" are abhorrent spectacles in which animals are pitted in bloody duels — often to the death — for human entertainment. These cruel and illicit encounters are spawning grounds for other criminal activities, including drugs and violence, dragging down entire communities. Credible studies show and law enforcement experts agree that people who engage in this kind of violence against animals are likely to exert violence against people.
This reward program has been made possible thanks to a grant by the Holland M. Ware Charitable Foundation.
Animal Fighting Reward Program Instructions:
- If you have information about illegal animal fighting in Mississippi, call your local law enforcement or animal control agency. If you wish to remain anonymous, let the agent whom you give your tip to know that you do not want your identity released to the public, but are interested in The Humane Society of the United States' reward. Make sure to note the officer's name.
- If the suspected animal fighter is convicted, ask the law enforcement agency involved in the case to write a letter to The Humane Society of the United States.
- The letter should state that your tip helped lead to the arrest and prosecution of the convicted animal fighter and should be mailed or faxed to:
Animal Fighting Reward Program
C/O Ann Chynoweth
The Humane Society of the United States
2100 L St. NW
Washington, DC 20037
FAX: 301-721-6414
For more information about The Humane Society of the United States' animal fighting reward program, call 301-258-1459 (English) or 301-258-1420 (Español).
Broadcast-quality footage and high-resolution animal fighting images are available at video.hsus.org.
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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.
