HONOLULU — The Humane Society of the United States has teamed up with law enforcement agencies in Hawaii to combat cockfighting and dogfighting here.

At a Wednesday press conference, U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii Edward H. Kubo Jr., Honolulu and Maui County Police Departments, and the HSUS announced a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person involved in illegal animal fighting.

"This announcement sends a clear message that illegal animal fighting will not be tolerated," Kubo said in a news release."Cracking down on these activities reduces crime and creates safer communities."

Cockfighting and dogfighting are illegal in Hawaii, Cockfighting is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 1 year of imprisonment and/or a maximum $2,000 fine. Dogfighting is a Class C Felony, punishable by up to 5 years of imprisonment and/or a maximum $10,000 fine.

Under the recently upgraded federal Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, it is a felony offense — punishable by up to 3 years imprisonment — to sponsor or exhibit an animal in an animal fighting venture; to buy, sell, transport, deliver, or receive, in interstate or foreign commerce, any dog or other animal for participation in an animal fighting venture, and to use the mails or other instrumentality of interstate commerce to promote or further an animal fighting venture. The act also prohibits knowingly selling, buying, transporting, or delivering, in interstate or foreign commerce, a knife, a gaff, or any other sharp instrument for attachment to the leg of a bird for use in an animal fighting venture.

"We commend U.S. Attorney Kubo and local law enforcement agencies for working to end animal fighting in Hawaii," said Inga Gibson, Hawaii state director for The HSUS. "There is no moral difference between cockfighting and dogfighting. Both illegal activities force animals to fight to the death for entertainment and gambling profits, and both should be rooted out and treated with the seriousness they deserve."

Law enforcement officials said anyone with information about illegal animal fighting in Hawaii should call their local law enforcement or animal control agency. If you wish to remain anonymous, let the agent whom you give your tip to know that you do not want your identity released to the public, but are interested in The HSUS' reward. Make sure to note the officer's name.

If the suspected animal fighter is convicted, ask the law enforcement agency involved in the case to write a letter to The HSUS.

The letter should state that your tip helped lead to the arrest and prosecution of the convicted animal fighter and should be mailed or faxed to:

Animal Fighting Reward Program

C/O Ann Chynoweth

The Humane Society of the United States

2100 L St. NW

Washington, DC 20037

FAX: 301-721-6414

For more information about The HSUS' animal fighting reward program, call 301-258-1459.

Recent Animal Fighting Cases in Hawaii:

August 4, 2008 — A Louisiana man was sentenced to 2 months in federal prison for attempting to smuggle more than 200 cockfighting gaffs into the United States through Hawaii.

March 1, 2008 — Hilo Police arrested ten people for gambling and cruelty to animals, seized 36 birds, more than $27,000 in cash, multiple firearms and extensive cockfighting implements.

January 20, 2008 — Four Molokai men were arrested and charged with gambling and animal cruelty. 150 people were said to be at the cockfighting site.

March 25, 2007 — One man was shot to death, one man arrested and several others fled the scene from what police said appeared to be a botched robbery of a cockfighting operation.

September 27, 2006 — An official from Aloha Stadium pled guilty to extortion. The investigation was part of a massive FBI bust involving an alleged drug-trafficking and cockfighting ring that led to the arrests of an FBI worker and 29 others.

November 21, 2001 — Police arrested 3 men in Kalihi in connection with a death after a post-cockfight argument.