Cockfighting Facts & Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

WHERE IS COCKFIGHTING TAKING PLACE IN NEW MEXICO?
After exhaustive research of county records in New Mexico, it is clear that very little documentation of even legal cockfighting and cockfighting "pits" exists. However, based on common knowledge and some limited records, cockfighting is believed to be mostly practiced in the southern and eastern parts of New Mexico. Pits are believed to exist at least in Hidalgo county, Cibola county, Lea county, Valencia county, Sierra county, Otero county, Luna county and Roosevelt county, among others. Part of the difficulty in obtaining records stems from the fact that cockfighting activity seems to be taking place without business licenses and without paying gross receipts taxes.

ISN'T COCKFIGHTING EXEMPTED FROM THE FELONY ANIMAL CRUELTY LAW PASSED IN 1999?
In 1999, the legislature wisely made intentional cruelty to animals a fourth degree felony, recognizing that intentionally hurting animals was a serious crime. Cockfighting was omitted from the 1999 bill because many lawmakers felt that the animal fighting issue should be addressed separately from that measure. Cockfighting is blatant and intentional cruelty to animals and should be punishable as a fourth degree felony, just like other kinds of intentional cruelty to animals.

WHY SHOULD ALL COCKFIGHTING BE PUNISHABLE AS A FOURTH DEGREE FELONY?
Since 1981, dogfighting has been punishable as a fourth degree felony in New Mexico. Cockfighting also deserves to be punishable as a fourth degree felony, because it is a cruel and violent activity which results in the intentional harming and killing of roosters for fun. The New Mexico Veterinary Medical Association supports making cockfighting a felony. If cockfighting were only a misdemeanor, the small fines would simply be considered a "business expense". Further, crimes with misdemeanor penalties receive lower priority in the criminal justice system.

DON'T THESE BIRDS FIGHT NATURALLY?
While it's true that this type of bird has a fighting instinct, its natural purpose is to establish a "pecking order" and seldom results in serious injury. In cockfighting, birds are specifically bred for aggressiveness, fitted with knives and gaffs, and sometimes given drugs to maximize their aggression and stamina. Unlike birds in the wild, these animals cannot escape. They are placed in an enclosed pit and forced to fight until one quits, is severely injured or dies.

DO CHILDREN ATTEND COCKFIGHTS?
Yes, children are often spectators at cockfights, and this fact is alarming to many New Mexicans. Studies show that exposing children to violence desensitizes them to the suffering of others. Children watching cockfights can learn that it is ok to be cruel to those who are smaller, weaker and different than them, just for fun. To teach our state's children to be compassionate members of society, adults need to set good examples, not condone cruelty for entertainment. Some cockfighting enthusiasts have even stated that the activity is a great family event, and that their children would be joining gangs if not for raising fighting cocks, as if those were their children's only choices.

IS GAMBLING TAKING PLACE AT THESE EVENTS AND IS IT ALLOWED?
New Mexico law prohibits gambling at cockfighting events. However, side bets and "lotteries" are a standard part of cockfighting, and an undercover investigation by a New Mexico television station proved that illegal gambling is taking place at cockfights in our state.

IS THERE A LOT OF MONEY INVOLVED IN COCKFIGHTING?
According to an investigative report on animal fighting by the Humane Society of the United States, the most common type of organized cockfight in the U.S. is the derby, in which dozens of people participate. Entry fees, ranging from $100 to more than $1,000, are pooled into a pot that makes up the purse for a derby. Participants' roosters are fought round-robin, and the person whose roosters win the most fights is the winner of the purse. The pit owner may also charge a fee for spectators. A winner could go home with tens of thousands of dollars from one derby.

WHY NOT GIVE COUNTIES THE OPTION OF ALLOWING OR BANNING COCKFIGHTING
The legislature made intentional cruelty to animals a fourth degree felony in 1999. Given that cockfighting is a blatantly cruel spectator event, counties should not be given a local option on intentional cruelty to animals such as this; state lawmakers should address our state's silent endorsement of events intended only to hurt animals. The results of a January 2001 public opinion poll in New Mexico clearly show that support for a ban is overwhelming throughout the state. Therefore there is no reason not to pass a state law. In addition, some people in rural counties have been reluctant to take on the issue of cockfighting, for fear of intimidation by a small minority of vocal cockfighting enthusiasts. Some people fear for their personal safety if they speak out against cockfighting in their community.

IS COCKFIGHTING IMPORTANT TO NEW MEXICO'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT?
When asked about cockfighting's role in New Mexico's economic development, John Garcia, Secretary of Economic Development, recently said on KOAT Channel 7: "It's an absurd form of entertainment that is from the Dark Ages. I think we need to look ahead at different benefits, different industries ... prostitution has an economic impact, too, but it's not legal." In addition, the Grants/Cibola County Chamber of Commerce and the Lordsburg/Hidalgo County Chamber of Commerce both are opposed to cockfighting in their communities. "Cockfighting is not the image we want the world to have of Cibola county. We don't want tourists or businesses to perceive our community as a place that condones animal abuse," Dr. Cecelia Perrow, President, Grants/Cibola county Chamber of Commerce.

HOW DO FAITH COMMUNITIES FEEL ABOUT COCKFIGHTING?
The New Mexico Conference of Churches, which is governed by a fifteen-member board represented by the Bishops and executives of regional churches, is supporting HB922 to ban cockfighting in New Mexico. Cibola county's Ministerial Alliance stated, "Having considered the matter of cockfighting, including its social, moral and theological degradation and implications, as well as the negative precept and example imparted by adults to children, registers its opposition to such activity." A United Methodist church minister in Grants, NM stated: "Those opposed to cockfighting..... enter our community into an ever widening population of forward thinking communities in our nation which are concerned with decency, compassion, and the long range implications of actions."

AREN'T FACTORY FARMED ANIMALS TREATED WORSE THAN FIGHTING ROOSTERS
Many Americans agree that factory farmed animals suffer tremendously from overcrowding, poor ventilation and conditions unsatisfactory for the animals' well-being. However, improper conditions in one situation do not justify intentional cruelty against animals in another situation. In addition, cockfighting is done purely for entertainment.

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