Woohoo! Another great step towards helping animals!

Posted by: K | July 13, 2007 05:36 PM

I live right outside of New Orleans, Louisiana and volunteer at the local shelter. I am ashamed of my state for waiting so long to ban this horrible, so called "sport"!

Posted by: Iris | July 13, 2007 05:46 PM

A big H U R R A Y for the abolition of this iniquity! There were even rascals who put iron spurs at their feet - i'm glad that this has an end now!

Posted by: Jassir Fairuzi | July 13, 2007 06:05 PM

Welcome to the 21st Century, Louisiana and the United States regarding ending the horror and violence of cock fights.

Many Latinos says this is racist since cock fighting is part of their culture. Well, I am Latina and culture is no excuse for cruelty. Every culture has apects of it that need to be eradicated because of the horrible cruelty an activity inflicts on innocent animals (bullfighting and rodeos for example).

This a good day for these lovely birds!!!! Finally!!!
Thank you to all of us who worked hard for the end of cock fights in LA and the USA!

Posted by: Ana | July 13, 2007 07:06 PM

I am absolutely thrilled to learn of this news! However, I wonder what had been taking the govt. so long to ban it across the country. In the illegal gambling aspect of it, the govt. wasn't getting any money out of it(at least not that I know of). And just with that alone, they normally work on illegal issues faster.
Pimping and street prostitution is illegal and non-taxable, but ironically not when it's done in the back rooms of strip joints because the govt. is getting tax money from the establishments' owners and the "dancers."

Posted by: Ariel | July 14, 2007 08:04 AM

I live in Louisiana and think all of you bleeding hearts should get back in the kitchen go bare foot and have babies. Most of you don't have a life so you have to get involved in someone elses. I think you should look at your own lives before you judge others.

Sinserely;
"VEGAS"

Posted by: Meat Eater | July 14, 2007 03:08 PM

VEGAS, unfortunately you don't have a clue about life...or about the people YOU are (mis) judging. Your back-woods mentality of "go back in the kitchen, go barefoot and have babies" is more than enough proof.

Among some of the highest ranking professional people who are the leaders for animal advocacy, who you say "need to get a life," there are doctors, celebrities, scientists, national sports players, professors, govt. officials, lawyers...people in every possible field of education and/or status.
Whether we are of higher status or the common person who works for a living and to help to make this a better world by appreciating and respecting ALL life, we are indeed in touch with the realty of the cruelties in life and the nature of people like you who obviously has no respect for life. So rather than doing nothing about it, we extend our compassion and our empathy, ie, we are not self-centered.
And perhaps your reasoning behind your thoughts is because you are in favor of cruelty, gambling, and drug dealing, which is consistent with cock fights.
Whatever, it is best for you to get an education and to get a decent life!

Posted by: Ariel | July 15, 2007 10:11 AM

And VEGAS, it's NOT "Sinserely;"

Sincerely,
Ariel

Posted by: Ariel | July 15, 2007 10:16 AM

vegas,
imagine - i've got babies and i'm bare foot in the kitchen - to cook a vegetarian meal!

Posted by: bluebird | July 15, 2007 02:32 PM

VEGAS

I have a life and am also an educator. Because I have a life I want other creatures to have a life too. As a teacher I encourage you to get an education about many subjects and also learn about the extensive animal cruelty that exists. And it is better to have a "bleeding heart" than no heart at all. My heart happens to be large enough to love the non-human animals and to advocate for them as well.

I rejoice for the birds!!!!

Posted by: Ana | July 15, 2007 05:21 PM

I knew LA could do it!

Posted by: Conner | July 16, 2007 12:29 AM

Honestly, what people do in their own home is not PETA's business. I'm from Oklahoma, and we recently banned cockfighting. I remember looking at the chart that showed which counties voted for and against cockfighting, basically, it was the more urbanized counties that were voting against cockfighting, and the rural counties were voting for it. Basically, people who were generally not involved in something took the right right away from the people who were. It really was not their problem. There are alot worse problems in the world than cockfighting, (for you guys, pet overpopulation in cities, spay your pets, for real). The Louisiana demographics were probably very similiar, the city dwellers telling the country folk what they can and can not do. Also, where would the chicken be if it was fighting, I dunno, probably being eaten. It is not PETA's business, and most animal rights activists seem to not understand that. Sure, cockfighting isn't particulary nice, but it is a freedom, and that is something everyone should support.

P.S. Join DU. (someone will get that)

Posted by: omnivorous | July 16, 2007 02:37 AM

It's not a freedom anymore if someone takes it away, dumbass. It used to be a freedom to own slaves, and now it's not. Because it's fucking unethical. You probably think that's a bummer too, don't you, Omnivorous?

Posted by: Geoff | July 16, 2007 10:55 AM

Iris, I too live in the area, Terrebonne parish and am pleased at the news. You are right Ana, if ones culture involves cruelty to living things, one cannot take pride in their culture. Vegas, the way we treat other animals is a good indication of how we treat our fellow human beings. And considering the disregard some have for roosters and the 10 million cats and dogs that are euthanized each year in this country due to irresponsible pet ownership, is does not look good for humans.

Posted by: Brenda | July 16, 2007 01:51 PM

Omnivorous, how can you say that what goes on in people's home is not PETA's business? What if someone was burning a kitten to punish it? What if someone was starving their dog? Have some empathy.

Roosters feel pain and some people keep them as pets. Unless you're a scientist, you're not in a position to say they are not worthy of protection.

What about pitbull fighting? If the dogs were not fighting, they would probably be destroyed. Does that mean we should allow people to fight them? Of course not.

And you're wrong, owning a living creature is not a right, it's a privellege. A privellege that lawmakers and judges can revoke from animal abusers. Get used to it.

PETA does know what's important. Animals are important, and so are people. That's why they won't tolerate cruelty.

Posted by: Maya | July 16, 2007 05:23 PM

Omnivorous, please allow me to give you the bigger picture.
First of all, ALL life is inter-related. Therefore, if we have respect for ourselves, we should have compassion...and even empathy...for ALL living creatures, especially the most vulnerable, helpless, voiceless...and that means the human and animal species. But not only should we have compassion and empathy, we should extend our help how ever possible.

Second, you say that PETA has no business what people do in their own homes. To an extent, that is correct. However, let me shed some light on animal advocacy to that effect. When animal abuse occurs in a home, it is a proven fact known by the FBI and child counselors that the animal abuse is a red-flag warning that child abuse is a very strong possibility in that home. Time and time again that has been proven to be true, and discovered through the efforts of animal activists.

Third, cock-fights are occasions that often involves illegal gambling and drug deals, which demoralizes a community.

To sum this up, we are caring people who are actively involved in trying as much as possible to make better communities and a better world by doing our part by extending our compassion and empathy for ALL life, and in the fight against crime as responsible citizens.
I hope you have a better idea now of the correlation and the need for intervention by those of us who are VERY aware of the bigger picture.

Posted by: Ariel | July 18, 2007 09:48 AM

This celebration for the animals is pathetic. If it wasn't for the backbone of this country all of the tree lovin, bunny huggers would be saluting Saddam Hussein now.

Posted by: common sense | July 31, 2007 01:49 PM

I would like to respond to this by saying your organization [peta] is nothing but a bunch of idiots. Why is abortion legalized, that's my question to you. If everyone is so worried about a chicken dying, think about all the innocent unborn babies that are being killed every year.

Posted by: Jenny | August 4, 2007 01:54 PM

I'd like to quote Ariel: "Among some of the highest ranking professional people who are the leaders for animal advocacy, who you say "need to get a life," there are doctors, celebrities, scientists, national sports players, professors, govt. officials, lawyers...people in every possible field of education and/or status"

whoop-tee-doo. Cockfighters are the same people.

now i'll quote Omni: "Basically, people who were generally not involved in something took the right right away from the people who were."

YAY!
It is a sad sad day when an animal has more rights than an american. Which will happen at the rate we are going. PETA and similar organizations want to ban animal fighting? OK. BUT punishing an offender more severely than a person who commits a violent crime or is DUI? GIVE ME A FREEKIN' BREAK. ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. If such organizations put as much effort into REAL crime instead of animal fighting we might have a decent chance as a society. But these organizations have more money and more political power than any of us country folk. Why don't you nit-pick on people who have the assets to fight back? Oh that would be too hard. So instead you have the "bully" syndrome. Well until we find a way to stuff money in politicians pockets...i guess we'll keep getting stepped on and shoved around. Ill just keep wearing my burberry stole, eating KFC and wearing leather boots until we have enough money and pull to be as effective.

Posted by: Jen | September 5, 2007 09:48 AM

Drugs,Gambling,Violent Acts are a part of all sports in and out of the United States. Your not gonna stop the NFL or MLB because people and athletes are betting and using illegal drugs are you? Nothing against hunting, but what type of defense does and animal have toward a fire arm??? People Created this nation not roosters, but while babys are being aborted and families suffering in poverty there are people that are just as human as they are, and when their word can make a difference they are putting a feathered animal in front of the well being of another human being. For every bird that is supposedly being saved there is a baby being terminated lawfully without a a living chance. At least roosters are born and are kept up to two years as they are kept healthy, and are in superb physical condition just like any profesional athlete getting ready for exhibition. If people would research they would know that cockfighting was taking place while this nation was being constructed, and I didn't see how it burdened the actions on the construction of this nation. If people (ignorant people against cockfighting) had the time and money they would probably try shut down the NFL and MLB. If people (ignorant people against cockfighting) would get a hobby themselves and realize that the well being of other humans is greater than the nature and instinct of these unique birds . Quote Eric Lozano and never more.

Posted by: Eric Lozano | September 23, 2007 11:38 PM

yall are a buntch of dumb mother fuckers. people who fight roosters dont force the roosters to fight they do it on their own free will. people who fight roosters put so much time and care into that rooster. i know some people who treat their roosters like they were their own kids.

Posted by: up yours | December 3, 2007 11:40 AM