Originally published on September 5, 2014, at ForceChange.com

Target: Alejandro Garcia Padilla, Governor of Puerto Rico

Goal: Outlaw the brutal sport of cockfighting in Puerto Rico

Although cockfighting is illegal in all 50 States, this cruel animal sport is still legal in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. Subjected to horrific abuse, gamecocks risk mutilation and death every time they are forced to enter the ring. Demand the Puerto Rican government ban this excessive continuance of animal cruelty.

Because of its inhumane brutality, cockfighting has been outlawed in all 50 states. It is even illegal to watch a cockfighting event in over 40 states. As a U.S. territory, Puerto Rico has refused to ban cockfighting because of blind traditionalism. Instead of acknowledging the pervasive animal cruelty, Puerto Ricans place bets on which roosters will live and which ones will die.

In nature, roosters sometimes fight each other over territory or a mate, but these fights usually don’t involve serious injury. In the sport of cockfighting, roosters are taught to kill for entertainment through breeding programs, steroids, vitamins, and months of vigorous training. The roosters are forced to run long obstacle courses and treadmills to strengthen their muscles.

Before a fight, the breeder plucks most of the rooster’s feathers and cuts off its wattles. The wattles are the fleshy red part below the beak and are removed so its opponent can’t rip them off during the fight. The gamecocks repeatedly peck each other with their beaks and kick with sharpened spurs attached to their talons. Children are allowed to attend cockfighting events and sometimes hold their birthday parties inside the bloodstained arena.

By signing the petition below you will urge the Governor of Puerto Rico, Alejandro Garcia Padilla, to outlaw the inhumane sport of cockfighting.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla,

Cockfighting is a barbaric sport with no purpose other than enabling sadists and gambling addicts. You cannot defend repeated acts of animal cruelty by hiding behind traditionalism. Human entertainment is no longer dependent upon forcing two animals to slaughter each other. The government of Puerto Rico needs to ban cockfighting to protect these animals from further acts of cruelty.

If dog fighting is illegal, then why would your government continue to endorse cockfighting? Forcing animals to murder each other for entertainment is abhorrent and inhumane, no matter what species they are. Take a stand against animal brutality and shut down your cockfighting arenas.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo credit: Amshudhagar via Wikimedia Commons