............“This underground industry could also damage our economy by fighting unhealthy birds that could spread diseases.”..........
 
May We Expect To See This "spread diseases"  Excuse Used On All Forms Of Animal Use In The Future As They All Become Underground Industries?
 
 
Cock fighting causes controversy

By Emily Webster
Intrigue Staff

Cock fighting isn’t exactly considered America’s favorite pastime.

However, some argue it deserves just as much respect as other sports.

“Cock fighting is just a sport, a tradition,” said Bobby Aldridge of Winfield. “People have been doing it for 200 years in this country. People will keep doing it even if the law says stop.”

For 10 years Aldridge raised, trained and fought gamecocks.

He chose to get out of the business to escape the dogs and hawks the chickens attracted to his country home.

“I don’t go to fights anymore,” Aldridge said, “not because they’re against the law, but because I know I’ll want back into the business, and that would just be too expensive.”

According to Aldridge, a winning gamecock can cost $600.

Most gamecock farms hold 100 to 200 chickens.

“It started out in the woods,” Aldridge said. “Then we built a pit to keep it more organized. You can throw two chickens anywhere, and they’ll fight to the death.”

Some cock fighters claim they enjoy watching this competition just like football fans enjoy watching a football game.

Donald Conner, department head of poultry science at Auburn, said chickens practice a natural pecking order.

This behavior prompts roosters to fight to establish prominence in the flock.

“They (cock fighters) take advantage of a chicken’s behavior,” Conner said. “This underground industry could also damage our economy by fighting unhealthy birds that could spread diseases.”

Even though Aldridge and others enjoy watching the battle, Aldridge said he has never witnessed any cruelty toward the chickens.

"They’re treated better than most house pets,” Aldridge said.

Rachel Querry of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) doesn’t agree.

“The chickens are bred for aggression. They are pumped full of drugs and stimulants, then forced to fight to the death,” Querry said. “It is inhumane.”

In the past two months, two busts of underground cock fights have happened in Alabama.

The only states where cock fighting is legal are New Mexico and Louisiana. In Alabama, the penalty for cock fighting is between $20 to $50.

Querry said he hopes Alabama will support the HSUS’s plea to strengthen state laws against attending cock fights, breeding and selling birds for fighting and organizing cock fights.

Despite the controversy over the sport, this tradition has captured Aldridge and so many like him for years.

 
Source:  http://www.theplainsman.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/02/19/403441d6638bb
 
 
Would That.........
.......new public service effort.........
Really Be Aimed At All Animal Ownership?
 
 
Dales-Schuman Teams Up With Humane Society
Mystics guard launches full court press to improve health care

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the nation’s largest animal protection organization, is teaming up with Washington Mystics star Stacey Dales-Schuman on a new public service effort that urges pet owners to have their pets spayed and neutered.

Dales-Schuman is featured in a 30 second television public service announcement – "Don’t Take a Chance With Your Pet’s Health.” The spot notes that spaying or neutering has health benefits for pets. Some of those benefits include:

  • Spaying pets reduces the risk of breast cancer in dogs and cats and eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer.
  • Neutering eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and greatly reduces the chances that your pet will develop prostate cancer.
  • Spaying and neutering can help improve pet behavior and reduces the chances your dog will bite.

    “Most people know that spaying and neutering can help in the fight against pet overpopulation,” said Dales-Schuman. “But they may not understand how important it is for their own pet’s well-being. I’m sure my pets are happier and healthier as a result of being spayed. This is a really important message, and I’m so pleased to be able to share it.”

    “We’re very excited to have Stacey Dales-Schuman lend her support to the effort to encourage people to spay and neuter their pets,” said Stephanie Shain, outreach director for The HSUS’ companion animals program. “She’s such a positive influence and a role model for the fans of professional basketball, and she’s also committed to helping animals.”

    Dales-Schuman plays forward for the Mystics, Washington’s WNBA team. She represented the team in the 2002 WNBA All Star Game. A native of Ontario, Canada, Dales-Schuman attended Oklahoma where she led her team to the 2001-2002 NCAA Championship Game. She’s an on-air analyst for ESPN during their coverage of women’s college basketball games. She has two dogs, Gracie and Allie.

    The HSUS has more than seven million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animals and sustainable agriculture. The HSUS has protected all animals through legislation, litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and field work. The non-profit organization, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2004, is based in Washington, DC and has 10 regional offices across the country. For more information, visit The HSUS’ Web site – www.hsus.org.

    • Source:  http://www.wnba.com/mystics/community/sds_humanesociety031028.html
     
    .............Whether it's the circus, cockfighting, bullfighting or the rodeo, make a vow to avoid any event that exploits, torments or harms animals in the name of entertainment or so-called sport. Cockfighting is anti-American, anti-Christian and immoral. It has no place in civil society...........
     
    Shouldn't Civil Society As Defined By Animal Rights Exclude Christianity?
    "Christianity is our foe. If animal rights is to succeed, we must destroy the Judeo-Christian religious tradition." Peter Singer

    Column:Hints and tips for animal rights

     
    by Richard "Bugman" Fagerlund and Viki Elkey

    Daily Lobo columnists


    Animal Protection of New Mexico, Inc. is a statewide animal protection organization and its mission is to advocate the rights of all animals by affecting systemic change resulting in the humane treatment of all animals.
    <snip>
     
    Source:  http://www.dailylobo.com/news/2004/02/18/Opinion/Columnhints.And.Tips.For.Animal.Rights-610252.shtml

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