Cockfighting is a controversial sport where two roosters are put in a ring to fight each other. The roosters are bred specifically for fighting and are antagonized by trainers to make them aggressive.Newsweek.com: A Crackdown on Cockfighting (March 24, 2008) The sport normally involves gambling.In Defense of Animals: Cock Fighting During a fight, the roosters are equipped with metal spurs or blades on their legs which are designed for mutilation.In Defense of Animals: Cock Fighting Although cockfighting is illegal in all 50 states, it is popular in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Thailand, Mexico and other places.International Herald Tribune: Where others see cruelty, Dominicans see culture (February 13, 2008)USA Today: La. is last state to ban cockfighting (August 10, 2008)
On February 2, 2009, over 70 people who gathered in North Carolina for a $40,000 cockfighting tournament were arrested on charges of cruelty to animals.WAPT.com (NC): 73 Arrested In Cockfighting Bust (February 2, 2009)