News
Over 100 Cockfights Cancelled in Puerto Rico
January 08, 2008, 4:22PM MT
By Jennifer S Hayes
Ban on bird imports has affected the cockfighting industry.
Ban on bird imports has affected the cockfighting industry.
By Jennifer Hayes, Best Friends Staff
Due to an occurrence of avian flu in the Dominican Republic, the Agriculture Department has halted all importation of birds into Puerto Rico. An unintended result was the cancellation of more than 100 cockfights and the potential loss of millions of dollars in revenue.
Cockfighting is a blood sport that puts two roosters together in a ring, often fitted with plastic or metal “spurs,” who are forced to battle, typically to the death. In addition to the cruelty of the sport itself, the birds are generally required to endure substandard living conditions and mutilation to make them ready to fight.
Cockfighting is already illegal in 49 states and Louisiana passed legislation last year banning it effective August 2008. However, this “sport” is still legal in Puerto Rico. There are approximately 200,000 fights held on the island annually, which generate about $12 million in ticket sales. In fact, the industry is flourishing with over 100 pits that are licensed for cockfighting and matches involving imported roosters may bring in a crowd of up to 900 people. According to Puerto Rico Wow.com, the fights bring in $700 to $800 million annually to the island’s economy.
These cancellations are only a temporary setback, since the ban may be lifted within the week, should no more outbreaks be reported in the Dominican Republic. Also, Puerto Rico has many fighting birds already on the island.
The virus detected in the Dominican Republic was the H5N2 strain, contagious from bird to bird, but not transmittable to humans. Over 100 birds were killed as a result of this outbreak.
For more information:
• Associated Press: Puerto Rico Forced to Cancel Cockfights
• Puerto Rico Wow.com: Bird ban to affect cockfighting industry
• Finally – Cockfighting Will Soon be Illegal in all 50 States
How you can help:
• Puerto Rico, already stinging from recent animal cruelty reports, should readdress the legality of cockfighting. By August, all 50 states will have outlawed the practice, and since Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, legislators should continue this humane trend and ban this brutal “sport.” Contact the following individuals (the Puerto Rico Governor, President of the Senate, and President of the House of Representatives) to politely request that cockfighting be made illegal in Puerto Rico.
Governor Aníbal Acevedo-Vilá
La Fortaleza
P.O. Box 9020082
San Juan, PR 00902
Phone: 787-721-7000
Fax: 787-724-6942
Contact the Governor through his website
Kenneth McClintock
Presidente Senado
El Capitolio
P.O. Box 9023431
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00902-3431
Phone: 787-722-4010 or 787-724-2030 ext. 3003 or 3004
Email: senator_mcclintock@yahoo.com
José F. Aponte
Presidente Cámara de Representantes de Puerto Rico
El Capitolio
2nd Floor
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00902-2228
Phone: 787-722-0471 or 787-722-0458
Fax: 787-722-5106
Email: japonte@camaraderepresentantes.org
Photo credit: photo is public domain, reprinted courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.