Local News
Humane Society seeks end to cockfighting
By Patrick McCreless
staff writer
Cockfighting is prevalent throughout Alabama, including Cullman County and to John Goodwin of The Humane Society, it is easy to see why.
“Of all the 50 states, Alabama has the weakest penalty,” Goodwin said. “It’s just a $50 fine.”
Goodwin said Alabama’s weak penalty has made the state a magnet for cockfights in recent years. In all but 14 states, cockfighting is a felony offense.
“People will go jurisdiction shopping for places with weaker penalties,” Goodwin said.
According to The Humane Society, in July 2008 the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department raided a cockfight with 350 people in attendance. Some of the suspects had come from Louisiana and Texas. Similar raids in Lauderdale County in 2008 and in Pickens County in 2007 revealed heavy involvement with people from other states as well.
Last year, the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office raided a large cockfighting operation in the Bug Tussle Community. More than 200 spectators were found at the event. Deputies seized more than $13,000 in cash and a computer used for registering participants.
“By the case we dealt with last year, it certainly is evident that this is a problem in our community,” said Cullman Sheriff Tyler Roden.
Roden said Alabama’s current cockfighting law does nothing to deter the crime.
“I would advocate increased penalties,” Roden said.
He is not alone.
Goodwin said he and others in his organization want to educate the public about the dangers of cockfighting as part of their effort to have stiffer penalties added to the crime in Alabama.
“We’re getting ready for a strong push in the Alabama Legislature,” Goodwin said. “We want to put some teeth in the law.”
He said The Humane Society is working with the office of Alabama Attorney General Troy King to create a cockfighting penalty bill.
“We’ll do what we need to do to get this passed,” Goodwin said. “We’ll give it a very strong effort. But I think it will be a difficult fight.”
Goodwin said the crime of cockfighting is worse than many people think.
“Most people probably envision just two roosters pecking at each other,” he said.
In reality, participants in the event connect steel weapons to the legs of each bird before placing them in a ring together.
“They hit each other with the backs of their legs and stab and slash each other until one bird kills the other,” Goodwin said.
In addition to the cruelty to the animals and gambling typically associated with the crime, Goodwin said law enforcement agencies have documented cockfighting attracts other crimes such as drug trafficking and prostitution. During the Marshall County raid, deputies discovered children were present, along with indications of prostitution, alcohol sales and narcotics possession.
“Cockfighting is just bloodlust and gambling,” Goodwin said. “There is no redeeming quality.”
- Patrick McCreless can be reached by e-mail at patrickm@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.
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