Pet-Abuse.Com Squares Off Against Boxer Roy Jones Jr.

[webmistress]

http://www.pet-abuse.com/hoganvjones.php

Date: 4/11/2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On behalf of The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), former World Wrestling champion Hulk Hogan sent boxer Roy Jones Jr. a letter urging him to "lay off defenseless animals" and "give up cockfighting." Jones recently bought a major cockfighting arena in Louisiana, where staged fights are conducted in front of several hundred attendees who engage in illegal gambling.

Hogan, who shares his home with a number of animals including a rooster named Lily, says he understands "the thrill of being in a ring." But he draws the line at cockfighting, an activity in which two roosters are pumped full of steroids, thrown into a pit with razors strapped to their legs, and forced to fight with deadly injuries, often until death.

Hogan says in his letter to Jones, "Cockfighting is bloody and violent and – unlike in our sports – the fighters often die. That's why I'm no fan of cockfights."

But Jones Jr - who attracted the attention of The Humane Society after purchasing a cock-fighting pit - has ignored animal-loving Hogan's plea.

Jones told website PAGESIX.COM, "Hulk Hogan should walk in a man's shoes before he judges him. As a kid, I learned how to condition my chickens and will never change what I do or believe. Examine your own house before you examine mine."

In response to Jones' comment, a national animal advocacy group has sent a letter to Jones asking that he reconsider. Pet-Abuse.Com, an organization that tracks and reports on criminal animal cruelty cases and issues, sent the following letter:

Dear Mr. Jones,

I am contacting you in response to your comments to Hulk Hogan, after he requested that you discontinue fighting roosters for "sport". We are deeply disappointed to hear of your commitment to continuing this brutal endeavor, and implore you to reconsider.

You replied that Mr. Hogan should "walk in a man's shoes before judging", however we fail to see how walking in your shoes would change the fact that cockfighting is a cruel and bloody sport where the participants are forced into a small ring to be ripped to shreds and disemboweled alive.

As an accomplished sports figure, you are a role model to children all across the country. Your continued endorsement and participation in cockfighting sets the example to the youth in this country that animal cruelty is something that should be encouraged and applauded.

Cockfighting is illegal in 48 states for a reason. The mere fact that an act has been perpetrated for several generations does not make it a tradition. The fact that you grew up around this brutality is not something to be proud of, and is certainly not an excuse to continue it.

You ask Mr. Hogan to walk in your shoes before judging, and we request that you take your own advice. You have surely never been placed in a ring to face an opponent who has razor blades attached to his fists, nor have you been forced to fight to the death. You have never looked down at your own body during a fight, only to find your entrails spilled out onto the floor.

We stand firmly behind Mr. Hogan and commend him for drawing the line between entertainment and senseless cruelty.

There is no glory or sport in cockfighting. It is a cowardly activity, and is far beneath someone of your prowess.

Sincerely,
Alison Gianotto
Director
[email protected]
Pet-Abuse.Com
www.pet-abuse.com


Cockfighting is a bloodsport in which two roosters are placed in a pit to fight, often to the death. Their natural spurs are sawed off and replaced by razor sharp steel blades from one to three inches long, or by curved implements measuring up to six inches in length. The birds are also given various legal and illegal drugs such as strychnine, caffeine, amphetamines, and epinephrine to make them more aggressive and harder to kill. This activity is held before an arena of cheering spectators who often wager large sums of money on the outcome of the contest.

During a typical cockfighting tournament, one-third to one-half of the birds are killed. Winners as well as losers suffer severe injuries including broken wings, punctured lungs, and gouged eyes. Roosters, like all other animals, have a nervous system and experience pain. The American Veterinary Medical Association considers cockfighting to be cruel and has recommended that the practice be banned and violations be considered a felony offense.

While it is true that this type of bird has a fighting instinct, its natural purpose is to establish “pecking order” and seldom results in serious injury. In cockfights, however, the birds are bred for aggressiveness, fitted with lethal instruments, and given drugs to maximize their aggression and stamina. Unlike birds in the wild, these animals can not escape. They are placed in an enclosed pit and forced to fight until one quits, is severely injured, or dies.

Illegal activity associated with the practice makes cockfighting more than just an issue of animal cruelty. Law enforcement officials have established a connection between cockfighting and the manufacture and distribution of illegal drugs. Because high stakes wagering is the norm at these events, firearms and other weapons are common.

#####

[Jessa]

Only 48 states? Its time for the remaining two to pass some quick legislation...

[webmistress]

You'd think it would be quick - but its not. Its been going back and forth, and making it illegal keeps getting defeated by the rednecks. *sigh*

[Eric McTavish]

You'd think it would be quick - but its not. Its been going back and forth, and making it illegal keeps getting defeated by the rednecks. *sigh*

would these be the same red(necked) states that voted for ...bush??? Hmmm big surpires there!

[Eric McTavish]

sorry just had to throw that in...but seriously I cant believt that cock fighting is still leagal! Ugh just as bad a Dog fighting!

[webmistress]

ROFL - PLEASE don't get me started on that... thats a whole other rant and a half.

[Ysobelle]

Where, exactly, is this legal? (Aside from Louisiana, apparently.) And what on earth are people there thinking?

Shudder. WTF?

[webmistress]

Its still legal in some counties in New Mexico

[Jeannie Fitzgerald]

Although illegal in AZ, cock and dog fighting still occur, mostly in or near rural mining communities.

[Cyranno DeBoberac]

I hear that cockfighting is also common in NYC's West Village, but my understanding is that it doesn't actually involve any roosters. :D

[Ysobelle]

I've heard it happens a lot on the Rogues' forum, too.


I'd expect the roosters have more brains, though. I seriously doubt they go into the ring willingly!

[Pathos]

would these be the same red(necked) states that voted for ...bush??? Hmmm big surpires there!
I think Bush won more than 2 states there Eric. :wink:

[Galleywench]

Alison I wouldbe curious as to what kind of response...if any...you get. Please keep us informed.

[Lady Laurel]

Unfortuneatly cock fighting is legal in Louisana. I am from Louisiana and there is several groups there that have been trying to eliminate it. There was recently a man in South Louisiana that was elected in office that approves cock fighting. He did state that it was a family sport. ( Another idiot) Now I also live part time in Houston ( my adopted home) and they have a serious problem with cockfighting even though it is illegal in the state. You read about in the newspaper all the time.

[shadow]

Can we not blame rednecks for this.

Might as well blame the blacks and hispanics while were at it.

[emalia]

Miami is not a RedNeck county to say the least, and CockFighting is HUGE there. So I don't think that it is a RedNeck/Black/White/Hispanic thing. I think it is a cultural area thing.

[webmistress]

shadow - I hardly see how that makes sense. "redneck" is not a racial term

[shadow]

its not?

[webmistress]

No.

[shadow]

are you absolutely sure

[webmistress]

I do not see it as a racial term at all - however if it will get you to knock it off already, I'll concede to whatever you want. Jesus.

[Cyranno DeBoberac]

It's cultural, not racial.

It's a subtle distinction, but in this case I'm not sure if it's one with a difference. Are there any non-white rednecks?

[webmistress]

I feel there certainly are.

[shadow]

I was being a pain in the ass

The point I was going to make was the one that Bob made.

Redneck is a blue collar average joe working class man. He works on his own truck is self reliant and probably doesnt care to much what others think of his yard or his hobbies. He likes to drink beer and enjoy a good time with friends.

Redneck don't mean he likes beating dogs or fighting chikens.

In fact most dog fighters are african american drug dealers and hispanics. Same with Cockfighting.

So when someone said its the rednecks that keep batting the bill down to stop the fights its probably an oversimplification. How many rednecks do you know that go to city hall and protest and vote and hold major lobbying power in senate congress or anywhere else for that matter.

The people Keeping this sport alive are the people profitting from it.

So plain and simple the rednecks probably have nothing to do with it so kindly leave us out of it.

[webmistress]

In fact most dog fighters are african american drug dealers and hispanics. Same with Cockfighting.

That is ABSOLUTELY untrue. Check your facts before you make such statements. Dog AND cockfighting are not constrained by racial barriers - and in fact cockfighting was at one point reserved for the elite WHITE man and women of this country.

[webmistress]

GETTING THIS BACK ON TRACK HOWEVER - It seems NC just passed a bill making it a felony:

http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ/MGArticle/WSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031782118745

[shadow]

Snipe come up to NYC
or down to Miami

the people who are fighting dogs are hispanics and blacks

[webmistress]

I don't have to - my organization deals with cases across the country every single day - and more importantly, you cannot make sweeping statements about an activity based on two cities. There are plenty of white people who participate in dog and cockfigthing.

With dog-fighting especially, there are several different "kinds". It is true that blacks and hispanics are responsible for the majority of the street fights, the larger, more organized fights are often run by whites.

[shadow]

and more importantly, you cannot make sweeping statements about an activity based on two cities.

You mean like the redneck comment?

[webmistress]

No, not like the redneck comment at all actually. Huge differences, and if you can't see them, I'm sorry.

[shadow]

im sorry I cant see the differences

Because what I did was make a broad generalization based on what I know about the cities of miamia and NY

I said that blacks and hispanics are the ones who fight dogs

Which truthfully I have no idea and spent no time looking up facts

What you did is make the broad generalization that rednecks are perpetuating the fights.
Now im sorry but to me thats the SAME thing

But hey what do I know IM just a dumb old redneck with a computer engineering degree and a minor in philosphy and electrical engineering associates

Back to your regularly scheduled Post

Oh and Snipe
Just to be clear the ONLY thing im adverse to in this whole post is the redneck comment. I abhore people who hurt animals.

[webmistress]

Uhm, no. Black and hispanic (etc) are actual quantifiable things. "Redneck" is just a term that *you* have made the decision to affliate yourself with. Apples and oranges.

[webmistress]

Looks like SC just took the next step too:

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/local/11387042.htm

[Dmitri]

Step down Shadow... you ain't winning a battle of wits with Alison... I've know her too long... Trust me...

[Eric McTavish]

Looks like SC just took the next step too

so now all thats left is Louisiana? (sp?)

[Lady Sarah]

Looks like SC just took the next step too

so now all thats left is Louisiana? (sp?)

and, if memory serves me from earlier posts in this thread before it turned into Shadow tilting at windmills... some counties in New Mexico.

[webmistress]

That's right... Louisiana and some part of Mexico.

Cockfighting was already illegal in NC and SC - the laws that were just passed were to stiffen the penalities. Its a felony now in NC, and the fines and jail time are higher in SC - both steps in the right direction!

[webmistress]

Incidentally, OK *just* made it illegal recently - there was quite a battle going on for a while, and we weren't sure whether or not it would get passed. Obviously, we're going to keep fighting for LA and NM to outlaw it, but cockfighting has a lot of support in those two states, so I can't say how soon it will happen. :(

[Dmitri]

I say we give Roy Jones Jr.'s next opponent a net and trident and see how HE likes it...

[webmistress]

Yeah - so pathetic that these famous guys have all the money in the world, and they still feel they have to prove their manliness by fighting animals. Pathetic. (You shoul;d have read my first draft of my letter to Jones... lol.. I always write one letter first that's just for me, and then another that actually gets sent.. get all my anger and expletives out of the way)

LaShon Johnson and DMX are a few other celebs on our sh*tlist.

[Lady Laurel]

It will probably be a while for LA. It seems that there are some politicians in South Louisiana that do cock fighting. What is with this. Anyway keep trying and I know there are people here that send emails and letters everyday to try and get it eliminated here.O and Shadow some of my best friends are rednecks ( men and women) they are wonderful to thier animals great people.

[Dmitri]

Yeah - so pathetic that these famous guys have all the money in the world, and they still feel they have to prove their manliness by fighting animals. Pathetic. (You shoul;d have read my first draft of my letter to Jones... lol.. I always write one letter first that's just for me, and then another that actually gets sent.. get all my anger and expletives out of the way)

LaShon Johnson and DMX are a few other celebs on our sh*tlist.

Remember, Luv, I've seen you mad... Can say with great honesty that I was glad that I wasn't the focal point...

[Eric McTavish]

LaShon Johnson and DMX are a few other celebs on our sh*tlist.

and just what did they do?

[webmistress]

Johnson: http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/1831/
DMX: http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/378/

[webmistress]

Remember, Luv, I've seen you mad... Can say with great honesty that I was glad that I wasn't the focal point...

LOL I don't remember being that mad - but I believe you. :D Whoever it was that got me mad, I'm sure they deserved it. LOL I don't usually fly off the handle without some serious provocation.

[Dmitri]

wasn't flying of the handle... more like seething, under the surface... kinda sexy tho'...

It's the redhead italian thing prolly... :wink:

[Lady Sarah]

Johnson: http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/1831/
DMX: http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/378/

ugh. :evil: not only was the sentence on DMX too bloody light, he should just be shot and tossed in the river. I'm not sure I want to read the list on Johnson.

[webmistress]

Sarah,

Yeah, I know it. If you look at his album covers, he has clearly not changed his ways. I have a sort of "museum" of dog and cockfighting stuff here - one of his last CDs is part of it. A shame too, because I really like his music - I won't buy it tho. I just can't support someone like that.

[webmistress]

wasn't flying of the handle... more like seething, under the surface... kinda sexy tho'...

I don't seeth! (do I?)

[Dmitri]

wasn't flying of the handle... more like seething, under the surface... kinda sexy tho'...

I don't seeth! (do I?)

Gods no... Of course not...

[webmistress]

Feh.

Pfffft...

[Lady Sarah]

Sarah,

Yeah, I know it. If you look at his album covers, he has clearly not changed his ways. I have a sort of "museum" of dog and cockfighting stuff here - one of his last CDs is part of it. A shame too, because I really like his music - I won't buy it tho. I just can't support someone like that.

I've only found three of his albums, not sure if he's got more, don't really care. Reading the critic's review of the latest one, Kennel I think is the name, I have to agree with the 'troubled and tormented soul' description. :sigh: go get a therapist, you can afford it.

[Dmitri]

Feh.

Pfffft...

Love you... Mean It.... :wink:

[shadow]

DMX gets off with a slap on the wrist where anyone else would have gotten a pretty nice stay at a maximum security Penn.

Thats sickening.

D i was making a point, however badly about people making generalizations. Ive made my point so Im dropping it.

[webmistress]

People just amaze me.


http://www.wkyt.com/Global/story.asp?S=3227404

Man Speaks Out After Receiving Citation At Cockfight
April 18, 2005, 07:09 PM

Early on Saturday morning, state police raided a large cockfighting operation in Montgomery County.

More than seven hundred people gathered to watch the fights take place.

Bobby Bowling drove from Jackson County to fight his roosters at Spring Brooks Farm.

Along with hundreds of other spectators, Bowling also received a citation for animal cruelty.

"Cockfighting's been around for un-teen years and we're not the villains that people make us out to be," Bowling said.

Not only was Bobby Bowling at the cock fighting operation on Saturday, but he also brought fourteen of his own roosters to fight. Bowling believes that he did nothing wrong.

"Well, they fight; it's their natural instinct to fight; we just breed these chickens to get the best that we can get out of them," Bowling said.

Bowling has more than three hundred roosters, and he says that he takes excellent care of all of his chickens.

"They do receive quite substantial wounds in cock fighting; they put spurs on them, and usually the loser is the one that dies first, so I would think there is substantial pain," Lt Jerry Hall said.

Bowling says his chickens are one of the most important things in his life.

State police say that cockfighting is animal cruelty.


You can receive fines and up to a year in jail.

[Absinthe d'Accalia]

It's a shame that there aren't giant godzilla-like roosters we can put razor-spurs on and then throw losers like the Bobby Bowling guy from the article above into the ring with them without any protection and see how they like it. :evil:

[webmistress]

Bwahaha! That would rock! But... uhm.. would that be Cockzilla?

*ducks and runs*

[Lady Sarah]

she said Cockzilla... :snicker:

But seriously, I have to agree with Absinthe. They should have a taste of the pain they're perpetuating.

However, skewed in the head as they are, they'd probably take the experience and use it to "better train" their cocks.

[shadow]

hunt down all the people who run or are involved in cockfighting and dog fighting

Surgically implant razor blades in their forearms and remove their fingers and replace them with razor sharp talons. Than drug them and put them on steroids for 2 years.

At the end of the two years have a pay per veiw event that lasts a month the winner of the fighting recieves a lethal injection and a quick death

all the proceeds from the month long fight go to helping the animals that have been hurt by these fighting rings.

do that and see how many repeat offenders there are


:evil:

[Phoenix McHeit]

*said in best Shrek-impersonation

You've had a lot o' time to plan this, haven't ye?

[shadow]

about 32 seconds

I think fast on my feet
:)

[Phoenix McHeit]

I thought you were sitting down?

[shadow]

i am

but im sitting on my feet
:P


I basically used an eye for an eye punishment
than used george carllins pay per view comedy sketch for the rest

[webmistress]

Looks like Texas is working for harsher punishments too :)

http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=135731

House bill stiffens penalties for animal fighting
4/21/2005 4:42 PM
By: Allie Rasmus


The scars on this dog's face indicate it may have been a fighter.
Dorinda Pulliam of the Town Lake Animal Center said scars are one of the signs of dogs forced to fight.

During spring and summer hundreds of animals will end up at Town Lake, but Pulliam said about one dog comes in every day with evidence of dog-fighting.

"There's no way we can make the determination that that's what happened to them. A lot of times people will just drop them off and never claim them," Pulliam said.

The Humane Society of the United States estimates there are hundreds of dog and cock-fighting rings in Texas. In January, officials busted the largest dog-fighting ring in state history in Bexar County and rescued 90 dogs and 40 puppies.

Animal fighting is already illegal in Texas, but officials say it's difficult to bust dog-fighting and cock-fighting rings because they say the current laws have no teeth.

"Law enforcement actually has to catch people in the act of holding a dog fight," Susan Hendrix of the Texas Humane Legislative Network said.

Rep. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio filed HB 2222 to target the underground organizations.

"It escalates the penalties for people who breed the animals specifically for fighting the animals. It escalates the penalties for the land owners who allow this to go on," Menendez said.

Making an animal fight would become a state jail felony. The bill also increases the penalty for spectators. Under current law, spectators face a citation and a class C Misdemeanor.

"Class C Misdemeanor is like a traffic ticket. We want to up the penalty to class A so that people really think about it and never do it again," Menendez said.

Menendez said it isn't just an animal cruelty problem. Law enforcement officers say the fights are linked with other kinds of criminal activity.

The House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee held a hearing on HB 2222 Thursday evening.

The last time officials busted a dog-fighting ring in Austin was more than two years ago.