Summer 1999 Poultry Press 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.
What Can I Do?

  • 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__________________

    Tip: If you do not know who your representative or senators are, visit http://www.voxpop.org/

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.

What Can I Do?

  • 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
Summer 1999 Poultry Press Legislative Actions