Cockfighting—a blood sport in which two roosters specifically bred for aggressiveness are placed beak to beak in a small ring and encouraged to fight to the death—has been around for centuries. Roosters were first bred for fighting in Southeast Asia 更多 than 3,000 years ago, and cockfighting later spread to Greece, Rome and Britain before crossing the Atlantic about 200 years ago. The brutal “sport" found popularity in North, South and Central Americas, and was particularly prevalent in Colonial New York, Philadelphia and Boston. 由 the 1800s, it had spread to the South and the West Coast—but 由 this time, people had begun to realize how cruel it was, and many states banned it. Today, cockfighting is a crime in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Despite the laws, cockfighting still persists.



The Birds
In nature, a rooster may fight another rooster over territory 或者 over a mate, but these fights are usually brief and don't involve serious injury. In organized cockfights, however, the roosters' natural instincts are exaggerated. Through breeding, feeding, training, steroids and vitamins, the roosters become killing machines for people's entertainment. Before a fight, a bird may go through several months of training, which may involve running long obstacle courses and even treadmills, and practice fights with other roosters. Just prior to a fight, most of the bird's feathers are plucked, and the breeder also cuts off the animal's wattles—the combs below the beak—so that his opponent cannot tear them off during the fight.

In the fighting ring, the roosters often wear artificial spurs—long, sharp, dagger-like attachments—that transform their natural spurs into knives for maximum injury. These steel blades are sharp enough to puncture a lung, pierce an eye 或者 break bones. A referee is on hand to supervise the fight, which can last anywhere from a few 秒 to 15 minutes. While the rules usually do not require one 或者 both birds to die in order for a winner to be declared, death is often the outcome, due to the severity of the injuries.



Related Crimes
Besides being cruel to animals, cockfighting is closely connected to other crimes such as gambling, drugs and acts of violence. Illegal weapons have also been found at cockfights because of the large amounts of cash present. Moreover, law enforcement raids across the country have established that cockfights are well attended 由 gang members, further encouraging venues for violence, illegal drug use and firearms. Despite these unsettling facts, cockfights often inspire a party-like atmosphere in which entire families gather, including children. This often leads to concerns that a child will not only become desensitized toward cruelty to animals, but are at risk of becoming injured 由 the sparring birds 或者 abused 由 other people.



In Our Own Backyard...
Although it is illegal, there are still cockfighting rings in New York City. Fortunately, the ASPCA is hard at work to crack down on them. ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement agents, including Special Investigator Mark MacDonald, have made hundreds of arrests for cockfighting over the years. "Cockfighting occurs in all sorts of communities and among all sorts of people," says MacDonald. "People can sometimes even buy a box seat, like 你 would for sports. Bets can range from a few hundred to thousands of dollars, depending on the reputation of the breeder's birds."

Officer MacDonald has observed that cockfights in New York City are often a family-run business passed down through generations. Fights may be held in an abandoned factory, a backyard 或者 even a basement. To avoid suspicion, organizers regularly 移动 the events to new locations. "You have to know someone to enter a cockfight," explains MacDonald. "That's where the undercover part comes in." As the undercover officer develops a relationship with the organizers and attends the fights, he can use this information to obtain a 搜索 warrant. Investigations may span months before a bust is made. At one bust in 2003, for example, officers arrested 137 people, seized 38 roosters and $40,000 in cash. While the ASPCA is often able to place some recovered hens and chicks on farms, most fighting roosters cannot be reintroduced with other birds, and many must be humanely euthanized.



...and All Around the World
Cockfighting is still 流行的 and prevalent in many other countries, such as France, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Belgium, Spain, Haiti, Italy and Malaysia. Many of these countries have well-established arenas with seats 或者 bleachers for spectators surrounding the ring, similar to a wrestling 或者 boxing area. Numerous fights might be held throughout the day, with attendees betting on which birds will lose. Parents often bring along their children for what is considered a 日 of fun for the entire family. Although there is growing opposition in these countries, cockfighting is still highly 流行的 to the majority who see it as part of their culture.



The Laws
Cockfighting is illegal in all 50 states and a felony offense in 35 states and the District of Columbia.
Being a spectator at a cockfighting event is illegal in 41 states and the District of Columbia.
The possession of birds for fighting purposes is prohibited in 34 states and the District of Columbia.