"A group that opposes making cockfighting a felony in Virginia has identified nine private clubs in Culpeper, Albemarle County and southern Virginia where the animal fights occur.

The Virginia Gamefowl Breeders Association has sent a letter to the attorney general's office listing the locations for the first time.

State officials say they will crack down on the clubs but would like to do so after the state makes all animal fighting a felony, which is being considered by the General Assembly.

A Senate committee overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to exempt members of the breeders association from the bill yesterday and sent it to the Senate floor for a vote. The association claims 2,000 members statewide.

Under current Virginia law, some forms of cockfighting are misdemeanors." (Anita Kumar, Richmond Digest, The Washington Post, February 26, 2008)