In a cockfight, two roosters fight each other to the death while people place bets. Cockfighters let the birds suffer untreated injuries or throw the birds away like trash afterwards. Besides being cruel, cockfighting often goes hand in hand with gambling, drug dealing, illegal gun sales and murder.
Left to themselves, roosters almost never hurt each other badly. In cockfights, on the other hand, the birds often wear razor-sharp blades on their legs and get injuries like punctured lungs, broken bones and pierced eyes—when they even survive.
Sadly, people often bring young children to cockfights. Seeing adults relish such brutality can teach kids to enjoy violence and think that animal suffering is okay.
Cockfighting happens in many kinds of neighborhoods and in states around the country. It is illegal in all states and a felony in 39 [PDF], which means that many states need to toughen up their laws.
Raid Yields Most Gaffs Ever Seized
A rescue of hundreds of birds from a suspected cockfighter's property turned up more than a thousand razor-sharp cockfighting gaffs—the most ever seized in this country—along with other contraband.
Learn MoreNews & Events
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June 17, 2013
Pennsylvania House of Representatives Cracks Down on Animal Fighting
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted 199-0 to outlaw the possession of animal fighting paraphernalia.
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June 12, 2013
Utah Now Has Weakest Cockfighting Law West of the Mississippi
Utah has become the only state in the Western contiguous United States without first-offense felony penalties for cockfighting, after Nevada enacted its upgraded law Monday.
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June 10, 2013
Nevada Governor Enacts Stronger Cockfighting Penalties
Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval has signed a new law making cockfighting a felony on the first offense—an upgrade that is supported by The Humane Society of the United States.
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May 30, 2013
Nevada Legislature Cracks Down on Cockfighting
Holly Haley, Nevada state director for The Humane Society of the United States, issued the following statement applauding the Nevada Legislature for passing a bill to strengthen penalties against cockfighting:
Our Victories
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June 17, 2013
Pennsylvania House of Representatives Cracks Down on Animal Fighting
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted 199-0 to outlaw the possession of animal fighting paraphernalia.
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June 7, 2013
Vermont Governor Cracks Down on Cruel and Unsporting Captive Pig Hunts
Gov. Peter Shumlin signed legislation that prohibits the importation and possession of wild pigs and their hybrids into law. House Bill 101, introduced by Rep. David Deen, D-Windham, bans feral pigs from captive hunts – fenced pens where trophy-seekers pay to shoot the trapped animals for guaranteed kills.
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May 21, 2013
Alabama Legislative Session a Success for Animals
The Alabama legislative session ended on a high note for animals as lawmakers sent HB 27, a bill to strengthen the state’s animal cruelty laws, to Gov. Robert Bentley for his signature, receiving praise from The Humane Society of the United States.
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May 16, 2013
Congressional Votes on Farm Bill Bring Good News, Bad News for Animals
The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, in taking up the Farm Bill yesterday, approved an amendment to crackdown on spectators at animal fighting ventures, but also approved a destructive, constitutionally questionable amendment to strip states of their right to protect farm animals and other animals from exploitation and abuse.
