Arkansas Cockfighting Bust: Arrest Numbers Highest in Nation's History

VAN BUREN, AR -- (MARKET WIRE) -- May 22, 2007 --Saturday, May 19th at 1:30 pm, with information provided by Last Chance for Animals (LCA) Special Investigations Unit, 150 law enforcement personnel from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies raided a crowded and popular cockfighting arena near Van Buren, Arkansas. The raid is the nation's largest cockfighting bust in history. Over 70 people have been charged with gambling and animal cruelty; 50 more warrants are being served. Federal indictments are pending.

LCA COCKFIGHTING PRESS CONFERENCE

Where: Doubletree Hotel, 424 West Markham, Little Rock, Arkansas

When: 11:00 AM, Wednesday, May 23rd

Who: Chris DeRose, President & Founder, Last Chance for Animals

What: Cockfighting footage will be shown and available to media

LCA is working to put Arkansas out of the cockfighting business. With cockfighting laws becoming more stringent in each state, specifically neighboring Oklahoma, fighting is ever increasing in Arkansas, with large numbers of people crossing the border to fight where misdemeanor charges and small fines only apply. Cockfighting is a breeding ground for organized crime, i.e. drug dealing and gambling. Arkansas is a pivotal state in the fight against cockfighting..

LCA would like to thank the Arkansas State Police, the Crawford County Sheriffs department and the Crawford County District Attorney's office, as well as the Arkansas State Drug Task Force, the U.S. Marshall, U.S. Customs, The Office of Inspector General and the FBI.

Last Chance for Animals (LCA), a national non-profit animal rights organization based in Los Angeles, has been active for almost 25 years. Founded and led by animal expert, author and actor, Chris DeRose. LCA fights for the rights of animals by conducting investigations that expose animal cruelty. Visit www.LCAnimal.org.

Contact Information: Contact: Lisa Beal Campaigns Director, LCA (818) 681-3672 lisa@lcanimal.org