Community | January 03, 2010 | 16 comments

169 Arrested in Raid on Parker County (Texas) Cockfight - 114 Roosters Seized

source: http://www.star-telegram.com/local/story/1864706.html#none

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EthicalVegan
Sheriff’s deputies arrested 169 people and seized 114 roosters after raiding a cockfight Saturday in Parker County, authorities said.

The raid occurred about 3:30 p.m. in north Parker County near Poolville, Sheriff Larry Fowler said. The site had been under surveillance for two weeks, he said.

Many other people scattered as soon as a police helicopter appeared overhead, said John Goodwin of the Humane Society of the United States.

Child Protective Services workers took custody of 10 to 15 children ages 7 to 15, Fowler said.

Cockfight organizers had set up an arena inside a barn, Fowler said. Drugs and cash were seized, he said, and dead and injured roosters were also found.

"The people who were arrested will go before a judge and be charged with a gambling offense," Fowler said. "We will look into charging some who were arrested with federal charges. A charge of engaging in organized crime is a possibility for some."

Goodwin said cockfighting is a lucrative business.

"There’s a little industry that has evolved around this," he said. "It’s surprising how organized these people can be.

"If 50 people enter the cockfighting ring and each pay a $200 entry fee, that’s $10,000 in the pot. Hopefully, people will look at this arrest and see the consequences outweigh any of the potential gain."

http://www.legaljuice.com/cockfighting.jpg
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16 comments // 169 Arrested in Raid on Parker County (Texas) Cockfight - 114 Roosters Seized

  • artemis6
  • EthicalVegan
  • ryan8566
  • EthicalVegan
  • corndog67
    • 0
      corndog67  

    • This is news? 1 guy here (central CA) was arrested with over 200 birds a little while back. They were having bigtime cockfights with all kinds of illegal betting.

      Isn't it legal in Arizona?

    • 2 years ago
  • EthicalVegan
    • 0
      EthicalVegan  
    • corndog67:

      Here in Los Angeles (Arleta or Artesia) area, there also was a cockfight ring bust.

      As for the state of Arizona, I have no idea. The article I submitted was for yet another cockfight in the state of Texas (Parker County).

      And even though a handful of states MAY say it's illegal, it still goes on.

    • 2 years ago
  • EthicalVegan
  • EthicalVegan
  • EthicalVegan
    • 0
      EthicalVegan  
    • corndog67:

      Since you were too busy to do a Google search, I did one for you in regard to the legality of cockfighting in the state of Arizona. Here's the very latest I could find:

      http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusaz1998proposition201cock.htm

      Arizona

      January 03, 2010

      Proposition 201 - AN INITIATIVE MEASURE PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO TITLE 13, CHAPTER 29 OF THE ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES RELATING TO COCKFIGHTING

      Statute Details
      Printable Version
      Citation: Proposition 201 (1998)

      Citation: Proposition 201 (1998)

      Summary:

      Proposition 201 would amend state law to create the crime of cockfighting by prohibiting a person from knowingly:
      1. Owning, possessing, keeping or training a male chicken ("cock") with the intent that the cock fight with another cock.
      2. Causing any cock to fight with or injure another cock for the amusement or gain of the person.
      3. Allowing any of the above described acts to occur on the person's property. In addition, state law would prohibit a person from knowingly being present at a place where preparations are being made for a cockfight or where a cockfighting exhibition takes place.
      Cockfighting would be classified as a class 5 felony, generally punishable by a possible fine of up to $150,000 and a possible prison term ranging from nine months to two years. Presence at a cockfight would be classified as a class 1 misdemeanor, generally punishable by a possible fine of up to $2,500 and a possible jail term of up to six months. This proposition would extend existing state law animal cruelty exemptions and defenses that apply to lawful hunting, ranching, farming, rodeos and related activities to also apply to cockfighting.

      Statute in Full:

      1998 Ballot Propositions - Arizona Secretary of State

      PROPOSITION 201

      OFFICIAL TITLE:

      AN INITIATIVE MEASURE PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO TITLE 13, CHAPTER 29 OF THE ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES RELATING TO COCKFIGHTING.

      TEXT OF THE AMENDMENT

      Be it enacted by the People of the State of Arizona:

      Title 13, Chapter 29 is proposed to be amended as follows if approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon and on proclamation of the Governor:

      Sec. 1. Title 13, Chapter 29, A.R.S. is amended by adding new sections 13-2910.03 and 13-2910.04, to read:

      § 13-2910.03. COCKFIGHTING; CLASSIFICATION

      A. A PERSON COMMITS COCKFIGHTING BY KNOWINGLY:

      1. OWNING, POSSESSING, KEEPING OR TRAINING ANY COCK WITH THE INTENT THAT SUCH COCK ENGAGE IN AN EXHIBITION OF FIGHTING WITH ANOTHER COCK.

      2. FOR AMUSEMENT OR GAIN, CAUSING ANY COCK TO FIGHT WITH ANOTHER COCK OR CAUSING ANY COCKS TO INJURE EACH OTHER.

      3. PERMITTING ANY ACT IN VIOLATION OF PARAGRAPH 1 OR 2 TO BE DONE ON ANY PREMISES UNDER HIS CHARGE OR CONTROL.

      B. COCKFIGHTING IS A CLASS 5 FELONY.

      C. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION AND SECTION 13-2910.04, COCK MEANS ANY MALE CHICKEN, INCLUDING GAME FOWL EXCEPT WILDLIFE AS DEFINED IN A.R.S § 17-101.

      § 13-2910.04. PRESENCE AT COCKFIGHT; CLASSIFICATION

      ANY PERSON WHO IS KNOWINGLY PRESENT AT ANY PLACE OR BUILDING WHERE PREPARATIONS ARE BEING MADE FOR AN EXHIBITION OF THE FIGHTING OF COCKS, OR IS PRESENT AT SUCH EXHIBITION, IS GUILTY OF A CLASS 1 MISDEMEANOR.

      Sec. 2 Renumber

      Sections 13-2910.03 and 13-2910.04, Arizona Revised Statutes, are renumbered as 13-2910.05 and 13-2910.06 respectively.

      Sec. 3. Section 13-2910.05, A.R.S., as renumbered, is amended to read:

      § 13-2910.05. Exempt activities

      Activity involving the possession, training, exhibition or use of an animal in the otherwise lawful pursuits of hunting, ranching, farming, rodeos, shows and security services shall be exempt from the provisions of §§ 13-2910.01, and 13-2910.02, 13-2910.03 AND 13-2910.04.

      Sec. 4. . Section 13-2910.06, A.R.S., as renumbered, is amended to read:

      § 13-2910.06. Defense to cruelty to animals and bird fighting

      See the rest by clicking on the link.

    • 2 years ago
  • EthicalVegan
  • EthicalVegan
  • EthicalVegan
    • 0
      EthicalVegan  
    • Image

    • http://www.hsus.org/hsus_field/animal_fighting_the_final_round/cockfighting_fact...

      1. What is cockfighting?

      Cockfighting is a centuries-old blood sport in which two or more specially bred birds, known as gamecocks, are placed in an enclosure to fight, for the primary purposes of gambling and entertainment. A cockfight usually results in the death of one of the birds; sometimes it ends in the death of both. A typical cockfight can last anywhere from several minutes to more than half an hour.

      2. How does it cause animal suffering?

      The birds, even those who do not die, suffer in cockfights. The birds cannot escape from the fight, regardless of how exhausted or injured they become. Common injuries include punctured lungs, broken bones, and pierced eyes. Such severe injuries occur because the birds' legs are usually fitted with razor-sharp steel blades or with gaffs, which resemble three-inch-long, curved ice picks. These artificial spurs are designed to puncture and mutilate.

      3. Are there other concerns?

      Yes. Law enforcement raids across the country have revealed several disturbing facets of this so-called sport. Gambling is the norm at cockfights. Thousands of dollars can exchange hands as spectators and animal owners wager large sums on their favorite birds. The owners of birds who win the most fights in a derby (a series of cockfights) may win tens of thousands of dollars of presumably unreported income. Firearms and other weapons are common at cockfights, mainly because of the large amounts of cash present. In addition, cockfighting has been connected to other kinds of violence—even homicide, according to newspaper reports.

      Law enforcement officials have documented a strong connection between cockfighting and the distribution of illegal drugs. Drug enforcement agents often learn about animal fighting operations as a result of narcotics investigations.

      The presence of young children at cockfights is an especially disturbing element. Exposure to such brutality can promote insensitivity toward animal suffering and enthusiasm for violence.

      4. Aren't these birds natural fighters?

      While it is true that birds will fight over food, territory, or mates, such fights are generally only to establish dominance within a group (the pecking order) and seldom result in serious injury. This natural behavior is quite different from what happens in staged cockfights, where pairs of birds, bred for maximum aggressiveness (and sometimes given steroids or other drugs to make them more successful fighters) are forced to fight until a winner is declared.

      5. Isn't cockfighting part of our heritage?

      While it is true that cockfighting has been practiced for centuries in various countries, including the United States, "old" does not necessarily mean right or even acceptable. At one time the United States allowed slavery, lacked child abuse laws, and refused women the vote.

      6. Is there a trend toward treating the crime of cockfighting more seriously?

      Yes. It is illegal in almost every state, and most states specifically prohibit anyone from being a spectator at a cockfight. Recently many states have increased the seriousness of a cockfighting charge from a misdemeanor to a felony. In addition, the federal Animal Welfare Act prohibits the interstate transport of birds for use in cockfights to states with laws against cockfighting. We encourage prosecutors to indict those involved in cockfighting not only on illegal gaming charges but also for conspiracy to commit a crime and illegal gambling.

      7. What can I do to help stop cockfighting?

      If you live in one of the states or territories where cockfighting is still legal, please write to your legislators and urge them to ban it. If you live in one of the states where it is still only a misdemeanor, please write to your state legislators and urge them to make it a felony offense. To find out how your state treats cockfighting, visit our page on State Cockfighting Laws.

      We encourage you also

    • 2 years ago
  • EthicalVegan
  • EthicalVegan
  • Ihatethemall
    • 0
      Ihatethemall  
    • EthicalVegan:

      I dont understand how any activity that animals are in ...horse or dog races etc....can even be called a sport. In a sporting event, a clear winner is obvious at the end and is lucky to be the winner. When animals are in it the animals always lose. They never win. They will just be used to gain more trophies, more money and more fame then shot when they are no longer productive. Animals were not put here for our amusment.

    • 2 years ago
  • EthicalVegan
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