TALLAHASSEE —Today, the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office
with assistance from The HSUS and others led a coordinated raid
in Indian River County, Florida on what is believed to be one
of the largest cockfighting operations in the country.
The HSUS had been working on the investigation with the
Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County, Indian
River Animal Control and the Indian River County Sheriff’s
Office for more than a year. Sandy Christiansen, program
coordinator for The HSUS Southeast Regional Office in
Tallahassee, organized teams of animal handlers from throughout
Florida and elsewhere to carry out the multi-site raid today.
Approximately 70 officers and humane society personnel are
participating in what is expected to be a two-day operation,
according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office. More
than 1,000 game fowl will be seized over the two-day period.
The birds will be taken to undisclosed locations and cared for
while the investigation continues.
“The coordinated efforts of all the agencies involved led to
a successful operation,” said Laura Bevan, director of The HSUS
Southeast Regional Office. “Cockfighters beware. This is a wake
up call to those that engage in this brutal activity that
states such as Florida are determined to use all the resources
at their disposal to shut down these illegal operations within
their borders.”
In June 2003, Florida Governor Jeb Bush signed into law a
bill that prohibits involvement in animal fighting, including
keeping and training of animals for fighting, dealing in animal
fighting equipment, and assisting in an animal fight. It also
provides for the seizure of fighting animals and allows the
court to prohibit convicted animal fighters from owning animals
in the future. The law was necessary because previously, a
loophole in the law allowed keeping and training animals for
illegal fights.
“When Florida enacted this animal fighting law last year, it
gave local law enforcement a strong tool to use to crack down
on this barbaric and despicable industry,” said Wayne Pacelle,
senior vice president of The HSUS. “Florida is a prime example
of what states can do to decimate the animal fighting industry
when the right laws are in place.” Cockfighting is illegal in
48 states and the District of Columbia. The federal Animal
Welfare Act prohibits all interstate transportation or export
of birds for fighting purposes. Thirty states and the District
of Columbia have made cockfighting a felony offense. Thirty
states and the District of Columbia prohibit the possession of
cocks for fighting, and 40 states and the District of Columbia
prohibit being a spectator at cockfights. For more information,
go to The HSUS on the
Web.
The HSUS is the nation’s largest animal protection
organization with over eight million members and constituents.
The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active
programs in companion animals and equine protection, wildlife
and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animals
and sustainable agriculture. The HSUS protects all animals
through legislation, litigation, investigation, education,
advocacy and fieldwork. The non-profit organization, which
celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2004, is based in
Washington, DC and has 10 regional offices across the country.
The HSUS Southeast Regional Office serves Florida, Alabama,
Georgia, South Carolina and Mississippi. On the Web:
www.hsus.org.
