Animal rights advocates are calling for a tougher law enforcement reaction and tighter legal regulations in response to a cockfighting ring in Felton that was broken up by Delaware Animal Services on May 8.
Cockfighting – which involves tying metal knives or “gaffs” onto the legs of aggressive chickens and forcing them to fight in a ring, often to the death – is illegal nationwide. Participating in, gambling on or watching a cockfight are considered felonies under Delaware law.
The cockfight in Felton was caught on video by a drone after activist group Showing Animals Respect and Kindness received a tip about the fight. In the footage, groups of spectators — including a few children — could be seen in a building watching the fight. Some attempted to kill the birds outside after fights, and other chickens — both alive and dead — were piled onto a small loader machine for disposal.
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Steve Hindi, president of Showing Animals Respect and Kindness, said his group contacted Delaware State Police to inform them of what was happening. But instead of a group of officers responding as he’d hoped, only a Delaware Animal Services agent came to the scene.
A state police spokesperson said troopers were responding to a shooting nearby and therefore could not accompany Animal Services to the cockfighting scene. The case has been given to the Delaware Animal Response unit within the Office of Animal Welfare.
A Delaware Office of Animal Welfare spokesperson said on Wednesday that the incident is still under investigation, and therefore the department cannot provide any more information.
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“This should be a priority for law enforcement,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of the Animal Wellness Action and Center for a Humane Economy.
He and other advocates also cautioned about the risk of disease spread through cockfighting. When chickens are brought from across state lines, they can bring pathogens like avian flu along with them. These have the potential to impact the health of humans, Pacelle explained, and can seriously harm the agriculture industry as a whole.
The Office of Animal Welfare is asking anyone with information about the cockfighting incident in Felton to call 302-255-4646.
Send story tips or ideas to Hannah Edelman at hedelman@delawareonline.com. For more reporting, follow them on Twitter at @h_edelman.
