North Texas Identified as Major Hub for Illegal Cockfighting Operations

A report by Animal Wellness Action has identified the corridor between Dallas and Tulsa as the primary hub for illegal cockfighting operations in the United States. The investigation revealed numerous breeding farms in Texas and Oklahoma that allegedly supply fighting birds domestically and internationally, particularly to countries like the Philippines and Mexico where cockfighting remains legal. Despite cockfighting being illegal in all 50 states, enforcement challenges persist due to legal loopholes that allow breeders to claim birds are raised for exhibition purposes.

The report highlights how current legislation creates enforcement difficulties. In Texas, police must catch suspects in the act to charge them with a felony, while possession of birds intended for fighting is only a misdemeanor. According to data from the Dallas County district attorney's office, 36 cockfighting cases were filed against 10 defendants since 2023, resulting in 6,762 birds being seized. However, penalties typically involved probation or less than a month in jail, which prosecutors argue is insufficient to deter the practice.

Federal legislation is currently being considered to address some of these issues. The Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking Act would ban the shipment of adult roosters through U.S. mail and prohibit online gambling ventures on fights. While shipping birds through commercial airlines for fighting purposes is already illegal, animal welfare advocates argue that without more stringent enforcement to verify the intended use of transported animals, the industry will continue to operate openly.

The international dimension of the cockfighting industry presents additional challenges. The report documents how birds raised in the United States are shipped to countries where cockfighting is legal, with breeders claiming the animals are for breeding rather than fighting. Animal welfare organizations have called for federal investigations into airlines that transport these birds, arguing they are complicit in the illegal trade. The economic scale of the international cockfighting industry is substantial, with the Philippine market alone reportedly generating more than $13.4 billion in wagers.

Law enforcement efforts have yielded mixed results. In one case, Dallas police responding to a shooting discovered nearly 3,000 roosters trained for cockfighting at a property, but were unable to make cockfighting arrests due to difficulties establishing ownership. In another instance in Titus County, a property owner was charged with cockfighting and engaging in organized crime following drone surveillance by animal welfare organizations. Advocates maintain that without increased federal enforcement against breeding and international shipping, the practice will continue to flourish.