SAN ANTONIO — A Bexar County man arrested over the weekend on a charge of facilitating cockfighting activities is now out on bail.
Meanwhile, an animal advocacy group is pushing for legislative change that would strengthen laws to end such illegal activity.
“Staged animal fights are barbaric,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action. “We’re working to upgrade the laws, we’re working to see that those laws are enforced and all of us have a roll.”
On Saturday, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office followed up on an anonymous tip and raided a rented property in the 26000 block of Sand Cliff Drive. Authorities arrested 56-year-old Paul Junior Morales for allegedly operating a cockfighting operation. He faces a felony charge related to cockfighting and gambling. Deputies also cited 50 spectators with Class C misdemeanors.
Law enforcement seized 200 roosters in addition to guns and drugs.
Animal Wellness Action is pushing for legislation known as the FIGHT Act (Fight Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Animal Trafficking Act).
The bipartisan bill, introduced in 2023, would amend the Animal Welfare Act to “enhance enforcement opportunities under the law and strengthen protections for at-risk animals.”
“This is a federal upgrade of our national fighting law to give citizens a private right of action against dog fighters and cock fighters whose crimes are not being interrupted by law enforcement. It also stops shipping of roosters through the U.S. Postal Service,” Pacelle said.
Cockfighting is illegal in all 50 states and U.S. territories, yet Pacelle stressed such activity remains prevalent across the country and throughout Texas.
“It’s not just Bexar County, this weekend in Goliad County, there were 63 people arrested an illegal cockfighting operation,” Pacelle said. “The animals are placed into a pit to hack each other to death. It is clear though that animal fighting is often bound up with narcotics trafficking, illegal gambling and other crimes.”
Pacelle believes the community at-large has a responsibility to help stamp out animal cruelty crimes.
“We’ve got a big problem in Texas, and we need citizens and law enforcement involved in solving this problem.”