US Court of Appeals Upholds Ban on Cockfighting Across United States

​worldanimalnews.com/victory-a-ban-on-barbaric-cockfighting-has-been-extended-to-all-u-s-territories/

The United States Court of Appeals has upheld a ban on the barbaric sport of cockfighting after siding with the United States Congress in extending the ban to all states / territories. This is a major win for birds in places across the United States where this disgusting activity was continuing to take place. Even with years of effort, cockfighting is still taking place despite bans, fines, and convictions so this ruling will hopefully put an end to a sport that quite literally exploits animals to death.

Cockfighting pits roosters against one another as spectators watch and bid on which will be the winner. To win, the roosters fight until one of them cannot fight anymore or is slaughtered and their body's are discarded like a piece of trash to make way for the next duel. These birds suffer tremendously during these bouts, having to continue with open gashes and wounds after being slit open by sharp talons or razor blades that are often attached to their legs. These fights are gruesome and in some cases like Puerto Rico and Guam, rooted in tradition.

The fight to keep "traditions" is nothing new. Horse-drawn carriages, bull fighting, the rodeo, the circus, cockfighting, etc., are all fought for on behalf of traditions despite the blatant exploitation, cruelty, and in some cases, danger animals are subjected to. Fighting for something because it is a tradition without recognizing that you are actually fighting for animal cruelty is so disassociated with reality. It's unbelievable to me that in this day and age, anyone would be willing to fight for their "right" to watch animals fight to the death or be gored repeatedly until they drop dead in front of a cheering audience. These "traditions" perpetuate needless suffering and cruelty all for human enrichment which is why it's time to recognize that just because they're traditions doesn't mean that they must continue.

Any sport or activity the profits off of the suffering or death of animals simply has no place in our society any longer. The attitude towards these sorts of activities has shifted greatly in even the last 20 years, with animal activism continuing to pick up steam across the globe. The circus is being banned in various cities / countries around the world; fur is being banned in major fashion labels and fur farming is being banned in places where it was once quite prominent. Torturing animals for own ambitions is not acceptable, traditions or not. We must collectively realize our errors and our mistakes with animals and bury some of these awful traditions in our history. It's possible to move forward without watching animals fight to their death, believe me.

I'm incredibly grateful to the United States for maintaining a ban on this despicable sport. However, they need to get a move on with relisting gray wolves. 

HAPPY VEG