FIGHTING CHICKEN - SPORT OR CRUELTY?
Should chicken fighting be allowed?
Yes, it's a sport and a tradition.
In some cases, because it might be a cultural tradition.
No, it is cruelty to animals.
  
What do you think of when you want entertainment? A good TV show, walk in the park, basketball with your friends ?
Unfortunately, some people think of chicken fighting.
Chicken fighting  is a cruel type of entertainment in which two specially bred roosters fight until one dies.
You may think  this is not entertaining at all, but for thousands of years millions of people have participated in this  cruel  activity.

Even in old Greece people attended chicken fights  for entertainment. And, from the earliest age people knew  how to breed special roosters who would then fight. Only certain types of chicken are good for fighting.  Fighting roosters are specially trained and prepared for fighting. Often people cut ofwattle and combs from the roosters when they are young. This is done because these parts "dangle" and can get in the way during the fight. Roosters are also sometimes given drugs to make them stronger. The rooster fighting probably began when people realized that roosters are very aggressive towards other roosters. The fight takes place in a small ring called gallodrome. Each rooster is handled by their  owner. Usually people bet on who will be the winner. Sometimes the roosters are equipped with sharp spikes or even knives attached to their feet. These spikes can hurt the other bird. Other times they are left without spikes and knives. But this is even more cruel because the fight can last for hours. The bird that survives the fight is the winner.
PEOPLE AGAINST CHICKEN FIGHTS
PEOPLE FOR CHICKEN FIGHTS
While some people consider chicken fighting animal cruelty, others think it is a sport and part of their culture. Those who feel that this is a cruelty point out that roosters would not naturally behave in this way. While roosters are naturally aggressive, they only fight  over food or space. In addition, the fights are  to create a "pecking order" and not to kill the other breed. Therefore, people are making roosters kill each other just for their pleasure! The birds bones are crushed and eyes poked - and  they still have to fight because there is no escape. These birds also cannot live with other chicken and are often placed on a chain. Finally, placing spurs and knives on their  makes the fight bloody, painful and cruel.
There are also those who see roosters fighting as  a traditional activity and part of their culture. Fighting has been known for over 3,000 years!  It was enjoyed in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome.  It was also very popular in medieval Europe. In many countries this activity was considered  noble and often the rooster fights became a national  sport. Also, scientists think that  if the fighting is outlawed completely several breeds of chicken may become extinct. Therefore, they believe that chicken fighting should be allowed and considered a sport that people enjoy.
LAWS ABOUT CHICKEN FIGHTS
The laws against chicken fighting were first passed in 19th century. Today many places in the world outlaw the chicken fights. Some places outlaw it because it is cruel to animals and some places outlaw it because of gambling that goes along. However, many places in the world still allow fighting to go on. In the United States there are only  two states that still allow fighting. Those are New Mexico and Louisiana. Puerto Rico and Guam, which are US territories, also allow it. But, despite of laws the rooster fighting still continues all over  United States. The chicken fighting is still found in Canada, although all animal fighting is illegal in there.   Chicken fighting is widespread in Asian countries and it is a great concern there because of the spread of the Avian Flu.