Continental Airlines Aids Cockfighting Cruelty

Every year, Continental Airlines transports roosters bred and trained to kill from the U.S. to the Island of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands of Rota, Saipan and Tinian. Although Continental Airlines has a policy stating the carrier will not ship animals for fighting purposes, the policy is not being enforced. Breeders of birds for cockfighting frequently claim their fowl are raised for breeding purposes or bird shows to dodge the regulations.

In a letter to Continental CEO Larry Kellner, IDA is calling on Continental Airlines to take more rigorous steps in enforcing its policy by inspecting all birds shipped for distinguishing characteristics and requiring a Certificate of Animal Health certificate from a veterinarian stating the birds will not be used for fighting. 

“Continental Airlines, by enforcing its policy on the shipping of fighting animals, has the ability to help put an end to the import of thousands of birds for the purpose of such a cruel and bloody sport. By turning a blind eye and failing to inspect birds being shipped to Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, Continental is implicitly stating that cockfighting is OK. Millions of compassionate people-and the law-agree that it’s not,” said IDA president Elliot M. Katz, DVM.

Please write or call the CEO of Continental Airlines, Larry Kellner, politely urging him to end Continental's transport of gamecocks by enforcing the company's current policies and implementing the following recommendations:

• Inspect birds for transport, and reject those with characteristics typical of gamecocks.
  
  

• Carefully inspect birds shipped in individual crates (those trained for fighting will engage in violence and cannot be kept together).
  
  

• Require that the Certificate of Animal Health include a signed statement from a veterinarian that the bird will not be used for the purpose of fighting.

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Larry Kellner
Chief Executive Officer
Continental Airlines
P.O. Box 4607
Houston, TX 72210-4607
corpcomm@coair.com
Ph: 713-324-5080
Fax: 713-324-7744

If you have questions or want additional information about Continental Airlines' role in the transport of gamecocks to Guam and the Marianas, please contact IDA Program Coordinator Karen Steele at Karen@idausa.org or (415) 388-9641 ext. 217.