If you’ve been keeping up with OTM’s internal activities, then you must be aware that our last episode of OneTake Tonight was removed for violating community guidelines. And yes, it ended up being my fault. Basically, I had blogged about a local cockfighting ring that was busted and we had discussed this topic on that last episode of OTT. In doing so, I also clipped in a several second video of an actual cockfight and that was the reason why the video was taken down. So in response to Danny Dials’ last blog, which demanded a book report about the negative effects of cockfighting, I’d like to take the next 500 words or so to fulfill this request. I would also like to take this opportunity to publicly apologize to our loyal followers, who have now been deprived of one episode of OTT.
First and foremost, let me officially say that I don’t condone cockfighting or any form of animals hurting each other for entertainment. I’d like to redact my statement from my previous blog, in which I expressed curiosity for the concept of cockfighting as a professional sport. Over the past couple of hours, I have learned that there are many reasons why cockfighting is negative for the roosters involved, as well as for the greater community. I’d like to share them with you.
Obviously, the roosters that are thrown into the ring are brutally beaten and cut by each other, but this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the abuse they actually experience. Many of these game birds are intentionally bred to fight. This means that they are also injected with different drugs like steroids and adrenaline, which is highly unnatural for them. To make matters worse, they are also placed in a small dark box, secluded from other animals, prior to an upcoming fight. This is done to deprive them of their environment and stir up their mind a little bit.
Now, let’s talk about the actual fighting. Even though there is usually a winner and a loser, both roosters involved in a match will sustain severe injuries (if they are not killed while fighting, of course). Some of these common injuries include lacerations, broken bones, punctured lungs, and pierced eyes. Spectators, or the Cockfighters themselves, have also been injured or killed in the past, by their own birds.
In addition to the inhumane treatment of these animals, cockfighting culture has also been known to be a breeding ground for disease and other criminal activity. Cockfighting is a very unsanitary sport as you can imagine. A combination of splattered blood and fecal matter within these rings have been the main culprit in reports of people falling ill from avian diseases, following their exposure to cockfights. Cockfighting is also very often associated with other illegal activities like drug trafficking and gang activity. Law enforcement agencies can easily uncover more criminal activity through leads such as a busted Cockfighting ring.
And of course there will always be people who are ready to defend this wrongful activity with arguments such as: 1. a bird’s natural tendency to fight other birds and 2. cockfights being a cultural/traditional pastime. If you’ve ever seen birds fight each other in nature on a National Geographic program or something similar, then you would know that it is VERY different from Cockfighting (especially when the roosters are equipped with gaffs- or the steel blades used to cut each other). As for the other argument, just because Cockfighting may be considered traditional, that does not stop it from being a brutal, unethical form of entertainment.
This wraps up my book report on “the negative effects of cockfighting for roosters and the greater community.” Once again, I’d like to apologize for my actions and take some accountability here. One could hope that I’ve regained my status as a “man of the people” - but that is for the people to decide.
God Bless,
Producer Reese
This is a book report, so here are my citations:
“Animal Care Services.” About Cockfighting, animalcare.saccounty.gov/AnimalIssues/Pages/Cockfighting.aspx. Accessed 4 June 2024.
“The Facts about Cockfighting.” The Humane Society of the United States, www.humanesociety.org/resources/facts-about-cockfighting. Accessed 4 June 2024.
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