Greyhound Racing | Cock Fighting | Rodeos | Bull Fighting

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Victory! Louisiana Outlaws Cockfighting

Vicious blood sport to be illegal in all 50 states

Last week the Louisiana legislature voted to outlaw cockfighting in the state, banishing the cruel blood sport from its last remaining legal stronghold. This victory represents an historic achievement for the animal protection movement, which has fought long and hard on the state and federal level to make cockfighting illegal throughout the country. Thanks to all the IDA supporters in Louisiana who contacted their state legislators in response to our alerts on this issue.

The ban had the strong support of both the House and Senate, and will make participation in cockfighting events a felony offense beginning on August 15, 2008. Republican State Senator Art Lentini, who introduced the bill in the Senate, also successfully shepherded another bill through passage that would ban gambling at cockfights. He believes this bill, which currently awaits the Governor's signature, will effectively start putting cockfighting rings out of business well before the official ban does.

Cockfighting remained legal in Louisiana for so long because chickens were not defined as animals in state law, and therefore not covered under anti-cruelty measures. The cockfighting ban was made possible because legislators agreed to provide chickens with the same protections as other species.

Learn more about cockfighting and other animal blood sports.