(October 24, 2007)—Citing his leadership in a multi-jurisdictional raid that closed down one of the largest cockfighting rings in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Humane Society Legislative Fund (HSLF) announced today that it has endorsed Sheriff Danny Fox for reelection as Sheriff of Mecklenburg County, Virginia.

"Animal fighting not only fosters unspeakable cruelty to animals, but also spawns other criminal activity, such as narcotics traffic, illegal gambling, public corruption, and violence toward people," said Michael Markarian, president of Humane Society Legislative Fund. "Sheriff Danny Fox has made Mecklenburg County safer for people and animals by rooting out this scourge. In order to enforce humane laws, we need humane law enforcement leaders like Sheriff Danny Fox."

Sheriff Fox was recently honored with a 2007 Humane Law Enforcement Award for his work to shut down a massive cockfighting operation in the town of Boydton earlier this year. "Operation Grit and Steel" resulted in the seizure of 125 fighting birds and the arrests of 122 people—including many out-of-state cockfighters and illegal aliens who were members of the Mexican Mafia and MS-13 gangs. Ten children were present, as young as four years old. The raid was the culmination of an eight-month investigation in cooperation with local, state, and federal authorities.

Because neighboring states like North Carolina punish cockfighting as a felony, Virginia has become a magnet for illegal cockfighters and the crimes associated with them. Sheriff Fox testified before the Virginia General Assembly this year in favor of legislation to upgrade the penalties for illegal cockfighting from a misdemeanor to a felony.

At a cockfight, two roosters are placed into a pit to slash each other to death. Razor-sharp knives are strapped to the roosters' legs, and the birds are pumped full of drugs to heighten their aggression. A fight may last minutes or hours, until one of the birds finally dies from blood loss, broken bones, punctured lungs, gouged eyes, and other injuries. All for the amusement of spectators and illegal gambling.

HSLF is a nonpartisan organization that evaluates candidates based only on a single criterion: where they stand on animal welfare. HSLF does not judge candidates based on party affiliation or any other issue.

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Media contact: Heather Sullivan: 301-548-7778, hsullivan@hslf.org

The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. On the web at www.hslf.org.

Paid for by Humane Society Legislative Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. HSLF, 519 C Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002.