Human history is rampant with pastimes that involved violence and exploitation of animals. But not all of these activities are a thing of the past. Exploitative “games” like Cockfighting, which use animals in cruel ways for entertainment, remain prevalent in many communities in the United States and around the world.
Image: aspca.org
The “sport” of Cockfighting pits two roosters, or cockerels, against each other in a match to the death as people place bets on which rooster will win. These violent matches last until one bird is dead, or so severely injured that he is incapacitated. It is not uncommon for both birds to die as a result of the injuries sustained during the fight, regardless of who the “winner” is.
Birds that are raised for cockfighting often spend most of their lives tied by the ankle to a small cage or plastic barrel serving as their shelter. In many cases, so many roosters are being bred and raised that they are neglected and malnourished. The handlers will usually kill any bird that does not seem strong enough to win a fight. Though in reality, there is no winner when it comes to this cruel activity.
One common misconception is that roosters like to fight naturally. While it is true that roosters are the defenders of their flock, most attacks are not naturally aggressive enough to cause severe injury or death. Roosters raised for cockfighting are bred to be aggressive, conditioned to fight, often fed steroids and amphetamines, and forced to suffer through painful modifications to their bodies that increase their fear and fight response.
Roosters that are used for this form of entertainment often have their wattles and combs (the fleshy growth on the neck and top of a bird’s head) cut off to prevent the opposing bird from ripping it off during the forced combat–an incredibly painful mutilation for these poor birds. When we first met Hamilton and Strauss at Chicago Animal Care and Control, they both had their wattles and combs cut off.
Image: aspca.org
If a fight is waning and neither bird has become injured enough to be deemed acceptable, handlers will pluck out feathers and antagonize them to force the fight to continue. To increase the blood and violence, roosters are often also subjected to spur amputation, which can lead to chronic pain for the birds. Then, metal spikes or “gaffs” are attached in their place. These spikes increase the injury the bird can cause to the other victim. Hamilton and Strauss had both also endured some form of this practice; each of their spurs were severely shortened.
Animals for Entertainment
Image: change.org
The barbaric use of animals for entertainment persists globally and often remains tied to heritage and culture. Cockfighting, for example, is illegal in all 50 states and yet rings are broken up regularly across the country.
There are many other forms of this type of exploitation – bullfighting, rodeos, and dog-fighting are all controversial and include violence toward animals for entertainment. While the ethics of these industries is only occasionally called into question in mainstream media, the sentience of animals is not a question. Animals experience a wide range of emotions like fear, stress, and pain.
Image: savedolphins.eii.org
There are also more insidious varieties of entertainment that use animals but are not overtly violent. Dog Sledding, circuses and parks keeping marine animals in captivity for performance and show are often not considered “bad” (and are not typically illegal), but using animals in these ways can be just as unnatural and damaging as their more violent counterparts.
If the animals in these situations survive, and if they are among lucky minority of those who are brought to a shelter (and not immediately euthanized), they still have an enormous mountain to climb. They are physically, mentally and emotionally traumatized, as Hamilton and Strauss were.
Recovery and Rehabilitation
Hamilton during a vet visit
The hope for recovery is always there, but there is no simple or easy solution. Not all sanctuaries and rescue shelters will take in roosters who have been raised for cockfighting because of the difficult and time-consuming process of recovery.
Rehabilitation of cockfighting roosters requires patience, commitment and compassion. Once Hamilton and Strauss were physically healthy, the process of social rehabilitation could begin – and will likely continue for the rest of their lives.
Because roosters raised for this sport have never been allowed to naturally interact and socialize with other birds, they don’t recognize or understand the language and social signals of other chickens. Just the sight of another chicken can cause an aggressive reaction because, in the past, this was the only way they knew how to survive.
The animal care team at Barn Sanctuary has initiated the rehabilitation and slow integration of Hamilton and Strauss. They get regular “hug therapy” sessions, and they were eventually moved from isolated areas to safe enclosures where they can observe other birds in peace and from a distance. Protecting Hamilton and Strauss while they start to re-learn what it means to be a chicken will help them develop a sense of safety and confidence without the fear they had been conditioned to feel.
Caregiver, Alicia, with Strauss
Take Action
Cockfighting is a felony in all but 13 states: Alabama, California, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia. For such a violent and inhumane activity to be labeled only a misdemeanor does little to deter people from participating, and does not do enough to protect the lives of the animals involved. If you live in one of those states, we urge you to write your legislatures and demand that they do more to protect these individuals.