AR-News: (US) HSUS calls on Congress to crack down on illegal cockfighting due to bird flu

[Snugglezzz at aol.com]

HSUS CALLS ON CONGRESS TO CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL COCKFIGHTING ACTIVITY TO
REDUCE RISK OF SPREADING BIRD FLU

Group Notes that Widespread Movement of Fighting Birds Poses Enormous
Threats

WASHINGTON (February 12, 2004) — Today, The Humane Society of the United
States (HSUS) urged immediate action by the Bush Administration and
Congress to crack down on the illegal movement of fighting roosters to
help prevent the spread of avian influenza and other diseases. 
Specifically, the organization has called on the Administration and
Congress to back pending federal legislation that would significantly
increase penalties for illegal movement of fighting birds and enhance
enforcement efforts.

A strain of avian influenza, or bird flu, has been identified in Delaware
poultry flocks, and state and federal authorities have ordered the
destruction of tens of thousands of birds as a disease containment
strategy.  A more dangerous strain of bird flu was discovered weeks
earlier in southeast Asia, and millions of birds have been killed there in
a desperate effort to arrest the spread of the flu, which has demonstrated
an ability to infect humans and claimed the lives of more than two dozen
people.  Many nations have imposed bans on imports of poultry from
southeast Asian countries, and now bans are being imposed on poultry from
the United States.  World health authorities fear the onset of a strain of
bird flu that can infect people and be resistant to known forms of
treatment.

“While cockfighting birds apparently did not play a role in introducing
this latest bird flu crisis in Delaware, the illegal movement of fighting
birds poses an ongoing risk of introducing and spreading diseases across
the country,” notes Wayne Pacelle, a senior vice president of The HSUS. 
“Cockfighters move birds from state to state for illegal fighting derbies,
with little to no worry about being prosecuted for violating the federal
law.  This creates perfect storm circumstances for the rapid spread of
avian diseases.”

Cockfighting birds have been implicated in the bird flu outbreak in Asia
and in at least two deaths of children there, leading Thailand to impose a
temporary ban on cockfighting and the Philippines to consider similar
action in recent days.

In 2002, an outbreak of Exotic Newcastle Disease (END), a deadly
respiratory disease that infects all species of birds, began in southern
California and spread to Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas.  State
and federal governments spent more than $200 million on containment and
compensation and ordered the killing of nearly four million birds.  It was
an animal health and economic disaster, with Southwestern poultry
producers hit hard by the disease and the restrictions placed on any
movement of their birds.

It is well established that game fowl pose a major threat of widely
spreading avian diseases.  Dr. Richard Breitmeyer, California’s state
veterinarian, wrote in a July 2003 letter to the State Senate: “Game fowl
and their owners have played a major role in the dissemination of the END
virus due to their high mobility related to meetings, training, breeding,
and fighting activities on a regular basis.”

“The Texas Poultry Federation considers the widespread movement of
fighting roosters to be an ongoing threat to the economic health of our
industry,” states James C. Grimm, executive vice president of the Texas
Poultry Federation.  “We know that the movement of birds for cockfighting
was the means by which Exotic Newcastle Disease found its way into the El
Paso area in 2003.  Fortunately, that outbreak was quickly contained.  But
adoption of stronger laws to crack down on illegal movement of fighting
birds may shrink this underground industry and prevent future outbreaks of
avian diseases that could devastate our industry.”

The HSUS, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Texas Poultry
Federation and 150 law enforcement agencies have called on Congress to
pass the “Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act.”  The legislation,
introduced by Senators John Ensign (R-NV), Wayne Allard (R-CO), and Maria
Cantwell (D-WA) as S. 736 and Representatives Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) and
Robert Andrews (D-NJ) as H.R. 1532, would make it a federal felony to move
fighting birds or dogs in interstate or foreign commerce.  In 2003,
Congress closed loopholes in the federal law barring interstate and
foreign commerce of fighting animals, but retained only a misdemeanor
penalty for violations of the law.  U.S. Attorneys have demonstrated that
they are reluctant to pursue animal fighting cases with only a misdemeanor
penalty.

“As a veterinarian and a senator, I am deeply concerned about the illegal
movement of fighting roosters between states and between the United States
and other countries,” said Senator Ensign.  “These birds, which are
outside the regulatory reach of any state or federal agency, can spread
disease in rapid fashion throughout the nation should they contract bird
flu, Exotic Newcastle disease, or some other avian disease.  We must crack
down on those who illegally transport these birds and put legitimate
poultry producers at risk.”

H.R. 1532 has 184 cosponsors and S. 736 has 50 cosponsors.  The bills are
assigned to the House and Senate agriculture committees.  The Senate
passed S. 736 as an amendment to another bill in October 2003, but the
animal fighting provisions were stricken in a House-Senate conference.

The HSUS is the nation’s largest animal protection organization with over
eight 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 protects all animals through
legislation, litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and fieldwork.
The non-profit organization, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in
2004, is based in Washington, DC and has 10 regional offices across the
country.
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