Dear Source:
I want to thank Alana Mawson for her continuing demands that the VI Senate bring the territory into 21st century civilization by banning all forms of animal-fighting. From a family who’s been part of VI history for 12 generations, she knows and testifies that blood-sports have never been a part of her islands’ culture; that cock-fighting was brought here from other islands; and that by allowing it to exist legally, the USVI Senate is pandering to a "low-life minority."
She reminds us that animal-fights generate brutality and barbarism among spectators, especially the young and uninformed. Social services and law enforcers know that animal-fights are linked causitively to the torment and abuse of weaker beings: wives, children and elders. And we all know that animal-fights rake in huge, illicit, untaxed gambling profits and are enmeshed with the sale of guns and drugs.
So why are we looking the other way?
Especially now when Federal laws make it illegal to attend cock-fights.
The US Humane Society writes: "The newly enacted Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, which was included in the final 2014 Farm Bill, makes it a federal felony to knowingly bring a minor under the age of 16 to a dogfight or cockfight, punishable by up to three years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and a federal misdemeanor to knowingly attend a fight as a spectator, punishable by up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. The HSUS and the U.S. Attorney’s Office… praise these upgrades, which provide law enforcement with additional tools to put an end to organized dogfighting and cockfighting."
Along with Ms. Mawson and other strong-minded advocates, we must demand that the VI Senate bring our Anti-Cruelty Bill into step with federal law. We can’t allow ourselves to be ruled by the worst of our community. Sincerely,
Paula Myles, St. John
Amen!
Animal fighting, whether bull fighting, dog fighting or cockfighting is an abomination in a so-called civilized community. Why anyone would want to watch animals suffer is completely beyond me, but there are those who think it is sport. Hardly! It is brutality, plain and simple.
I spent roughly twenty-five years in law enforcement both here and on the mainland and have seen the problems associated with cockfighting. Gambling, drugs, assaults, robberies, murders,the whole gamut of criminal behavior. Why any community would want to promulgate such a debasing activity is completely beyond me.
We know from experience and numerous studies that those who abuse animals often become abusers of humans. Do we want that?
Saying that cockfighting is a cultural practice is a feeble excuse at the very best. The “sport” of cockfighting was not a part of early Crucian culture by any means. It was brought here from the outside and allowed to to continue. It is past time to rectify that mistake and end the practice now. There is nothing good about the practice and no valid reason to allow it to continue. Simply put, it is barbaric, inhumane and contemptible.
I wish to congratulate and Thank Sen. Nereida “Nellie” Rivera-O’Reilly immensely for taking a stance on the unpopular (in your fellow Senators minds)recently passed US Farm Bill which makes cock fighting illegal in all 50 states. It is refreshing to see someone in our Legislature do this as we all know the hurdles that must be crossed and personalities involved in speaking out against this barbaric and inhumane blood sport.
There is NO culture in pitting animals to fight to the death for that sake of gambling and of which there are unreported earnings, low life attendance of people that deal in all types of nefarious and illegal activities.
I am happy to help in any way and am trying to garner support to ban this type of cruelty with input from all our animal welfare programs, the islands veterinarians, animal activists plus just people that care about the plight of the unfortunate fowl and neighbors of those that raise roosters for this small and completely disgusting disregard for animal welfare, in the many forms it takes.
Let’s not forget that Federal Grants bring in much needed money into the USVI and to turn away from a moral and ethical standard on this issue may, over time, jeopardize those monies not to mention turn people/investors away from our islands.
The whole Animal Cruelty bill needs to be revisited in totality. There is so much wrong as well as the complete lack of enforcement of existing laws.
When our zoning laws do not protect us from neighbors in residential properties keeping fowl (roosters and chickens plus peacocks in STJ, especially) that crow all night and crap all over your property, farm animals (goats, sheep, cattle, donkeys, etc. ) that emit odors from urine and excrement and create noise coming from your next door neighbors property into your home, neighbors dogs that are tied to a tree and howl all day and night, people do not have any recourse, at this point in time and one can spend months trying to get these situations resolved with no end in sight.
These are all animal issues as well. People reach the end of their rope and poison and kill these animals or are forced to suffer the consequences of the Governments inability and unwillingness to take charge of these situations.
When our animal cruelty laws, pitiful as they are, are neither enforced nor updated the problems become compounded.
Happy to help with my contacts if you need support.
Alana Mawson
St. Thomas, VI