The governor of Veracruz, Mexico, Miguel Ángel Yunes, is being applauded for his recent veto of a change to the state’s animal protection law that would have legalized animal fighting, including cockfights and other cruel spectacles like vaquilladas, which are similar to bullfights.

The following is a statement from Anton Aguilar, executive director of Humane Society International/Mexico, praising the governor’s veto and urging the state’s lawmakers to keep the ban in place.

“We applaud Governor Yunes’ courageous stance against cruelty in Veracruz. Cruel spectacles like cockfighting and vaquilladas have no place in modern society and can  contribute to violent and criminal behavior. There is a strong correlation between animal abuse and human violence – those who intentionally abuse animals are more likely to exhibit violent behavior towards others. Veracruz already has a high violence and crime rate, so it’s all the more important that the state’s lawmakers prevent cruel and abusive cockfighting and vaquilladas from further staining the state’s reputation.”

HSI/Mexico will work with local animal protection organizations and Veracruz representatives to oppose any further attempts to legalize cockfighting and other forms of animal cruelty in the state.

Facts:

• Veracruz is one of the few Mexican states that ban cockfighting.
• Despite the ban, the birds are widely bred in Veracruz, with more fighting gamecocks being bred in Veracruz than in any other state.
• If the local congress passes the measure to legalize cockfighting a second time (it was originally passed last month), the governor will no longer be able to veto the bill.
• The connection between animal cruelty and human violence is well documented. Studies show a correlation between animal cruelty and all manner of other crimes, from narcotics and firearms violations to battery and sexual assault.

Media contact: Raúl Arce-Contreras, rcontreras@humanesociety.org, +1-301-721-6440