Legislative Actions
Update
Anti-Cockfighting Legislation
In February, Senator Wayne Allard of Colorado introduced Senate Bill 345. The bill seeks to prohibit the interstate transport of live birds for the purpose of fighting to states in which animal fighting is still legal. S. 345 will "clarify that possession of fighting birds in any of the 47 states should then be illegal, as shipping them out for cockfighting purposes would be illegal." For example, it will be a crime to ship birds intended for cockfighting from Arizona, where cockfighting is illegal, to Louisiana, where it is still legal.
- Contact your two U.S. Senators and urge them to support S. 345.
The Honorable__________________
United States Senate______________
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator:_____________________ - Contact your U.S. Representative and urge him or her to
introduce a House companion bill.
The Honorable_______________________
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative__________________
U.S. Postal Service and the Airlines Ship Birds Intended for Cockfighting from the States (the Mainland) Through Hawaii to Guam, American Samoa, and Saipan – Where Cockfighting is Legal
“This 'Live Express Mail' is going without food and water,
in a 6 to 8 inch cubicle, full of noise, dust, rough handling and
very poor ventilation for up to 3 to 5 days.”
– U.S. Postal Service Employee, Air Cargo, Honolulu
Senator Allard's bill should ban this practice.
- Thank Senator Allard for introducing S. 345. Urge him to make
sure that this bill prohibits the movement of live birds intended
for cockfighting through the U.S. Postal Service. (For more
information, see below.)
Senator Wayne Allard
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510 - Write to the Postmaster General and urge him to prohibit the
shipment of live birds through the U.S. Postal Service. This
shipment is completely cruel and inhumane. The crates in which
the birds are packed together for days are not even inspected for
additional contents (such as illegal weapons, drugs, etc.). The
breathing holes are so small you cannot see inside the boxes.
What you hear is the incessant crowing of suffering roosters, the
suffering cheeps of baby chicks, and the silence of dying and
dead birds. Why doesn't the U.S. Department of Agriculture check
crate contents? Why? Because Guam, Saipan, and American Samoa are
not classed as international packages, but as domestic packages.
The U.S. Postal Service should stop profiting from this dirty
business. The majority of Americans do not support cockfighting,
which is banned in 47 states.
William Henderson
Postmaster General-CEO
Room 10022
475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, DC 20260-0010