Animal rights groups urge lawmakers to put a stop to cockfighting

In Alabama, cockfighting is a misdemeanor with up to a $50 penalty.

That's not enough to put a stop to the bloodsport in Alabama. Animal advocates say cockfighting spreads diseases and advances violence and illegal gambling.

The Alabama law has been static since President William McKinley was in office at the turn of the century.

Animal Wellness Action and the Center for Humane Economy have called on Gov. Kay Ivey to prod legislators to up the misdemeanor to a felony.

“This is a barbaric activity," said Wayne Pacelle, president and founder of Animal Wellness Action.

Cockfighting is a felony in 42 states and is a federal felony. It commonly involves fitting the birds' legs with razor attachments that intensify the bloodshed.

Seven members of a Chilton County family accused of operating one of the largest cockfighting rings in the country pleaded guilty to felony charges late last year and were sentenced to as long as two years in federal prison for their role in the underground operation, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Led by William Colon “Jim” Easterling, 77, the Easterling family of Verbena ran the illegal enterprise for many years, hosting bloody cockfighting events drawing in hundreds of attendees to gamble on and watch the fights. The family also ran two large breeding operations for the sale of fighting birds.

Animal Wellness Action provided evidence to the government for its investigation into the Easterlings. The group in 2020 labeled Alabama the "cockfighting capital of the Southeast."

Pacelle said that research shows that spectators of cockfighting have an increased tendency to engage in violence. “They’ve lost their empathy," he said.

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Cockfighting can also spread Newcastle disease and bird flu. The globe is experiencing the largest outbreak of bird flu, which can in rare cases be transmitted to humans. It also affects the economy, costing billions of dollars, said Jim Keen, the director of veterinary sciences for the Center for a Humane Economy.

“It’s a worldwide problem," Keen said.

Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy have released reports connecting cockfighting with the spread of diseases.

Cockfighting leads to, "untold risk and carnage," said Thomas Pool, one of the researchers involved in releasing the report on disease among cockfighters. "There’s every reason in the world to try to put a stop to this if we can."

Previous reporting by Marty Roney and Evan Mealins was included in this story.

Alex Gladden is the Montgomery Advertiser's public safety reporter. She can be reached at agladden@gannett.com or 479-926-9570.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Animal rights groups urge lawmakers to put a stop to cockfighting