United Poultry Concerns January, 16 2004

URGE PROSECUTION OF FEDERAL COCKFIGHTING CASE

From the Jan. 15, 2004 HUMANElines published by The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)

Since the discovery that videotapes showing violent and bloody cockfighting are being sold from a venue out of Kentucky in violation of federal law, The HSUS has been pressuring the U.S. Attorney’s office to investigate and prosecute those responsible. The videotapes, sold by Sabong Press out of Lexington KY, show an almost endless series of vicious fighting matches in which trained cockfighting birds suffer bloody injuries and debilitating exhaustion, all for the apparent amusement of wagering spectators. The videos also show that fighting birds have blades and gaffs attached to their legs, in order to cause greater injury and death. While the cockfighting video was apparently filmed in the Philippines, their sale or possession for commercial purposes in the United States is a violation of federal law, punishable up to five years in prison. Congress passed the federal animal cruelty depictions law to stop those who encourage and profit from cruel and illegal activities such as cockfighting, and now it is important that this critical animal protection law be enforced.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Contact the U.S. District Attorney’s office in Lexington, KY and respectfully urge them to prosecute John Purdy of Sabong Press for selling animal fighting videos in violation of federal law.

Gregory F. Van Tatenhove
U.S. Attorney
Suite 400
110 West Vine Street
Lexington, KY 40507-1671
859-233-2661
859-233-2666 (fax)


United Poultry Concerns, Inc.
PO Box 150
Machipongo, VA 23405-0150
757-678-7875
FAX: 757-678-5070
www.upc-online.org

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