Advocates: Carolina breeders supporting cockfighting in Guam

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Animal rights advocates say that breeders in North Carolina shipped more than 1,000 live roosters to Guam for the island’s cockfighting trade.

News outlets report that two animal welfare groups on Thursday sent letters to U.S. attorneys in the state calling for an investigation. They say breeders are charging as much as $2,000 per bird.

Animal Wellness Action President Wayne Pacelle says his group looked at shipping records in Guam and found that 9,000 roosters were mailed there from 12 states. Shipments from North Carolina ranked in the top five.

A federal ban on cockfighting took effect in Guam in 2019.