![\"Gamecock](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.animals24-7.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Picsart_25-03-30_20-31-37-003-e1743391932418.jpg?ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/p>\n(Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n TELLICO PLAINS,\u00a0 Tennessee\u2013\u2013<\/strong>Documenting a fifth alleged illegal cockfight in five weeks,\u00a0 <\/strong>Showing Animals Respect & Kindness [SHARK] on March 29,\u00a0 2025 \u00a0transmitted to the Monroe County,\u00a0 Tennessee sheriff\u2019s office an array of evidence including:<\/p>\n Cockfighting gaffs offered for sale,\u00a0 for $240,\u00a0 by Cannon Blankenship.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Showing Animals Respect & Kindness video also showed two men apparently removing the gaffs from the legs of a rooster who had lost his fight.<\/p>\n And the Showing Animals Respect & Kindness drone video included buildings,\u00a0 roads,\u00a0 and other topographical features easily matched up with Google Earth images of the location.\u00a0 There could be no mistake about where it was.<\/p>\n Even some of the people could be tentatively recognized.<\/p>\n But the Monroe County sheriff\u2019s office failed to raid the cockfight and make arrests,\u00a0 Showing Animals Respect & Kindness founder Steve Hindi told ANIMALS 24-7<\/strong>,\u00a0 even as the March 29,\u00a0 2025 cockfighting derby continued within camera sight of SHARK drones.<\/p>\n Hindi telephoned to confirm the continuing non-response multiple times during the next two days,\u00a0 including after several frustrating discussions with Monroe County sheriff\u2019s deputies.<\/p>\n Hindi said he was told on March 30,\u00a0 2025 that his dossier of evidence would be turned over to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.<\/p>\n That makes sense.\u00a0 The poultry industry in Tennessee,\u00a0 according to the Tennessee Poultry Association,\u00a0 \u201chas an overall economic impact of\u00a0$6.5 billion, \u00a0provides for over 27,000 direct and indirect jobs, \u00a0and accounts for over $438 million paid annually in state and federal taxes.\u201d<\/p>\n The H5N1 avian influenza,\u00a0 often spread through the transport of gamefowl,\u00a0 has either killed or brought the prophylactic culling of 456,070 poultry in Tennessee since 2022,\u00a0 the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported on February 21,\u00a0 2025.<\/p>\n What does not make sense is that the Monroe County sheriff\u2019s office failed to act immediately,\u00a0 impounding roosters and gathering other evidence.<\/p>\n Alleged cockfighting derby host Cannon Blankenship,\u00a0 34,\u00a0 is not exactly unknown either in the Tellico Plains community or among gamecock enthusiasts in Tennessee,\u00a0 North Carolina,\u00a0 and surrounding states.<\/p>\n A Tellico Plains resident since arriving from Tryon,\u00a0 North Carolina in 2006,\u00a0 Cannon Blankenship attended high school in nearby Sweetwater,\u00a0 is involved in local youth football,\u00a0 helped to organize at least one charity softball tournament,\u00a0 and boasts 3,600 Facebook friends,\u00a0 mostly among the 46,000 Monroe County residents.<\/p>\n Cannon Blankenship,\u00a0 claiming to be self-employed,\u00a0 appears to have worked as a concrete finisher,\u00a0 and perhaps still does.<\/p>\n \u201cShorty\u201d bully pit bull & two gamecocks, from Cannon Blankenship\u2019s Facebook page.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n But Cannon Blankenship\u2019s Facebook page,\u00a0 apart from documenting family life, \u00a0documents with close to 1,000 photographs his participation in gamefowl breeding,\u00a0 cockfighting,\u00a0 and selling cockfighting paraphernalia,\u00a0 beginning at least as far back as 2011.<\/p>\n One of those photographs,\u00a0 showing Cannon Blankenship holding a gamecock,\u00a0 doubles as his Facebook profile picture.<\/p>\n Also thoroughly photographically documented on Cannon Blankenship\u2019s Facebook page is his apparent side business of breeding and selling pit bull puppies.<\/p>\n Earlier postings also illustrate participation in deer hunting.<\/p>\nAlleged cockfight host & pit bull breeder Cannon Blankenship may have 3,600 local friends,\u00a0 including some in law enforcement,\u00a0 but SHARK has the evidence<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\nGaffs<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Tennessee Department of Agriculture<\/h2>\n<\/a>Who is Cannon Blankenship?<\/h2>\n<\/a><\/p>\nPhotos worth 1,000 words each<\/h2>\n