Animal rights group looking to uncover other illegal cockfighting operations

Animal Wellness Action says they have cockfighters on the run and there's more trouble on the way for those who violate the federal ban on fighting chickens.

Wayne Pacelle is not going to stop. The head of Animal Wellness Action has been pleading with the governor to stop turning a blind eye to illegal cockfights on Guam, but it looks like his pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
Pacelle staked out the Dededo Game Club after a schedule of cockfights for the new year went viral on Whatsapp.

He says the group sent drones up over the weekend and did see activity at the dome, but he also says he's gotten tips that cockfighters are fleeing to more clandestine locations.

"I've got two very solid tips about cockfighting venues in Yigo," Pacelle said. "If it's the dome, we want to have eyes on it, if it's the other venues throughout the territory we want to have eyes on it there."

AWA is also offering rewards for information about illegal cockfights or animal cruelty. Pacelle says he is in contact with federal law enforcement officials and will be forwarding information to them relative to a "smoking gun" he says he has been able to obtain

"Somebody sent us footage from a cockfight and we are in the process of identifying individuals there and I think it's going to be startling when we release the details," he said. "We've got some information already."

Some senators have raised concerns about cocking on Guam to include Sen. Sabina Perez. She's told KUAM News 2022 might be the time to revisit the local law that makes cockfighting legal despite a federal law to the contrary.

Sen. Joanne Brown also brought up the unregulated and unchecked large-scale gambling associated with cockfighting, after Rev & Tax Deputy Director Marie Lizama told KUAM DRT has no enforcement or collection role when it comes to cockfighting cash.

Pacelle meanwhile is again asking island residents, to say something if they see something

"I want to ask all of your listeners if you do have information for us on illegal acts of animal cruelty email us at [email protected] that's [email protected] we will follow up on every one of them," he said.