Assemblymember Chris Rogers (D-Santa Rose) introduced AB 928, also known as the Cockfighting Cruelty Act, to bolster penalties for cockfighting.
Cockfighting is illegal in all 50 states. In California, the bloodsport is a misdemeanor.
Introduced in partnership with the Humane Society of the United States, the legislation aims to give law enforcement more tools to address cockfighting.
According to Assemblymember Rogers, “AB 928 builds on California’s legacy of protecting animals from cruel and inhumane treatment by allowing law enforcement to address cockfighting in the community before it becomes a major criminal operation. This legislation will not only protect birds, it also helps address the public health risk presented by smuggled birds that have the potential to spread diseases, like avian flu, to legitimate poultry operations.”
The USDA estimated that cockfighting is a multi-million dollar criminal industry that involves more than 3 million birds statewide. Despite California’s strong cockfighting laws, the three largest cockfighting seizures in U.S. history have all recently happened in the state.
In 2022, a man in Ceres was sentenced to 16 months in prison for selling gamefowl after federal agents found nearly 3,000 birds on his property. In California, it is illegal to possess birds for the purpose of cockfighting, however, it is an exceedingly difficult crime to enforce as officers must prove intent.
Rogers’ Cockfighting Cruelty Act would prohibit possessing more than three roosters per acre, or 25 roosters on one property. It exempts commercial poultry operations, poultry hobbyists, schools, animal agencies, and projects from Future Farmers of America and 4-H.
A person possessing more than 25 roosters on one property or more than three roosters per acre would have to prove that the birds are not being used for cockfighting. For each rooster over the limit, the owner would face civil penalties of up to USD 2,500.
A similar bill was introduced by Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara) in early 2024. However, it never moved forward after Hart canceled a committee hearing for the bill.
Ann Chynoweth, Senior Director of the Animal Cruelty Campaign for The Humane Society of the United States, stated, “Cockfighting is a criminal industry in California that profits from extreme animal cruelty, and we applaud Assemblymember Rogers’ leadership on this issue. Not only is cockfighting malicious, it also poses a significant risk for the spread of avian diseases. With the rising cost of eggs being a persistent issue for California consumers, this legislation will help protect against the driver behind those price increases — avian flu.”
Avian flu, which is often spread by wild birds, has caused the death of more than 2 million commercial and backyard poultry in California in the last two years. Gamefowl are a high-risk disease vector for avian disease because they are raised without protection from wild birds, transported across the country without oversight, and often exposed to bloody birds.
The National Chicken Council testified in support of the Federal Animal Fighting Prohibition Act calling cockfighting “an inhumane practice that presents a continuing threat to the health of commercial flocks.”
