Dear [Your Elected Official],

<p>I am writing as a constituent to ask that you OPPOSE the Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act - S.1454.</p> <p>S.1454 seeks to amend the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) claiming to enhance federal enforcement against animal fighting. While presented as a tool to crack down on criminal activity, the bill goes too far—placing lawful animal owners, breeders, and rural citizens at risk of profiling, harassment, and property seizure without proper due process.</p> <p>• S.1454 contains overly broad language and defines "rooster" as any male bird over six months old, and casts a wide net over all game fowl breeders. Any breeder of traditional or heritage breeds can be wrongly labeled as an animal fighter.</p> <p>• S.1454 imposes a presumption of guilt: Assumes intent to fight animals based on species owned—setting a dangerous precedent of guilt by association for pit bull owners, game fowl breeders, and rural animal keepers.</p> <p>• S.1454 urges profiling based on animal ownership -- this bill opens the door to profiling citizens based on the type of animal they own. Law-abiding individuals who own certain breeds of dogs or species of birds may be automatically suspected of illegal activity, regardless of their conduct.</p> <p>•S.1454 grants expanded authority to seize animals, property, and equipment from citizens based solely on suspicion, without requiring a conviction -- violating due process. </p> <p>• S.1454 encroaches on states' rights by inserting federal enforcement into lawful animal-related activities protected under state law.</p> <p>• S.1454 harms responsible breeders and animal owners who may be discouraged or forced to shut down due to fear of harassment, investigation, or unjust seizure.</p> <p>S.1454 punishes innocent citizens under the guise of targeting criminals impacting game fowl breeders preserving heritage bloodlines, dog breeders and owners, especially historically targeted breeds, rural farmers and ranchers, livestock and poultry exhibitors and enthusiasts, pet owners, nationwide. </p> <p>I strongly urge you to oppose S.1454 as it threatens the rights of lawful animal owners and breeders across America, expanding government overreach without sufficient legal safeguards. </p>