Florida prosecutors and sheriffs representing all 67 counties urge Congress to advance the ACE Act, FIGHT Act and No Flight, No Fight Act
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida’s leading law enforcement organizations are backing a three-pronged federal legislative campaign to give law enforcement a stronger set of tools organized dogfighting and cockfighting, other forms of malicious cruelty, and the trafficking of animals used in fights.
The Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association (FPAA), representing Florida’s 20 elected state attorneys and more than 2,000 assistant state attorneys serving all 67 counties, has endorsed the No Flight, No Fight Act, and previously endorsed the Animal Cruelty Enforcement (ACE) Act and the Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act. The Florida Sheriffs’ Association, representing sheriffs across the state’s 67 counties, has also endorsed the FIGHT Act.
Animal Wellness Action is urging Florida’s congressional delegation to support all three measures:
- Animal Cruelty Enforcement (ACE) Act — H.R. 1477: Would establish a dedicated Animal Cruelty Crimes Section within the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute serious federal animal-cruelty offenses, including extreme acts of animal torture and organized animal fighting.
- Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act — H.R. 3946 / S. 1454: Would strengthen federal anti-animal fighting laws by targeting online gambling and the simulcasting of animal fights, authorizing civil forfeiture of property used in animal fighting crimes, restricting the shipment of mature fighting birds through the U.S. mail, and creating a citizen-suit provision to help stop animal fighting operations when government enforcement falls short.
- No Flight, No Fight Act — H.R. 7371: Would restrict the commercial air transportation of adult roosters, closing a significant avenue used to transport fighting birds domestically and internationally. The bipartisan bill was introduced in February by Reps. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) and Dina Titus (D-Nev.) and has attracted bipartisan support, including from members of Florida’s congressional delegation.
Together, the bills would address animal fighting and cruelty at multiple points—from investigation and prosecution to illegal gambling, property used in criminal operations, and the movement of fighting animals by mail and air.
“Organized animal fighting can involve illegal gambling, trafficking, weapons, violence and other criminal activity,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. “The ACE Act, FIGHT Act and No Flight, No Fight Act give Congress an opportunity to provide law enforcement with the federal tools needed to dismantle these operations before more animals are torn apart and communities put at risk from this lawlessness.”
The FPAA’s endorsement of the No Flight, No Fight Act follows its earlier support for the ACE Act and the FIGHT Act. In a recent endorsement letter, FPAA President Amira Fox emphasized the importance of federal resources in addressing serious animal cruelty crimes that can exceed the investigative and prosecutorial capacity of local jurisdictions.
The Florida Sheriffs’ Association has likewise emphasized the interstate nature of animal fighting operations and the need for federal assistance.
Florida has repeatedly seen animal fighting operations tied to illegal gambling and other criminal conduct. Recent investigations have uncovered cockfighting operations involving injured birds, fighting implements and organized events, underscoring the need for stronger enforcement tools.
“Florida has a serious animal fighting problem, and our law enforcement officers are often the ones left to deal with the consequences,” said Laurie Hood, Florida state director for Animal Wellness Action. “These operations inflict extraordinary suffering on animals while consuming law enforcement resources and creating opportunities for other criminal activity. Florida’s prosecutors and sheriffs are telling Congress that they need stronger federal partners, and Congress should listen.”
“Animal fighting operations are not isolated acts of cruelty—they are organized criminal enterprises that can cross county and state lines, involve illegal gambling and trafficking, and place significant demands on law enforcement,” said Douglas Booher, deputy state director for Animal Wellness Action in Florida. “Our sheriffs and prosecutors should not have to fight these operations with one hand tied behind their backs. The ACE Act, FIGHT Act and No Flight, No Fight Act would give federal, state and local authorities stronger tools to disrupt these networks, hold perpetrators accountable and prevent the continued movement of animals into the fighting trade.”
The No Flight, No Fight Act is particularly aimed at disrupting the international movement of fighting birds. Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy recently documented an illegal fighting-bird smuggling operation involving the transportation of birds from the United States to the Philippines on commercial airlines. The organizations have warned that international cockfighting operations create a lucrative market for traffickers while exploiting loopholes in transportation systems.
“The three bills work together,” said Pacelle. “The ACE Act strengthens the federal investigative and prosecutorial response. The FIGHT Act attacks the gambling and infrastructure that allow animal fighting enterprises to flourish. And the No Flight, No Fight Act closes a transportation pathway that traffickers use to move fighting birds. Congress should move these measures forward, and Florida’s delegation has an opportunity to lead.”
Animal Wellness Action applauds the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association and Florida Sheriffs’ Association for recognizing animal fighting and malicious animal cruelty as serious crimes that demand a coordinated federal, state and local response.