Why didn’t the Monroe County, TN sheriff’s office bust a big cockfight?

Alleged cockfight host & pit bull breeder Cannon Blankenship may have 3,600 local friends,  including some in law enforcement,  but SHARK has the evidence

TELLICO PLAINS,  Tennessee––Documenting a fifth alleged illegal cockfight in five weeks,  Showing Animals Respect & Kindness [SHARK] on March 29,  2025  transmitted to the Monroe County,  Tennessee sheriff’s office an array of evidence including:

• The address of the alleged cockfight, at 533 Shaddon Road, Tellico Plains;
• The geo coordinates of the alleged cockfight, at 35.3673,-84.3647;
• The name of the alleged operator,  Cannon Blankenship;
• And video showing arguably more men carrying roosters into the alleged cockpit than Showing Animals Respect & Kindness drones have captured on camera at any of the many dozens of other cockfights SHARK has exposed and often gotten busted since 2019.

Gaffs

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.

And the Showing Animals Respect & Kindness drone video included buildings,  roads,  and other topographical features easily matched up with Google Earth images of the location.  There could be no mistake about where it was.

Even some of the people could be tentatively recognized.

But the Monroe County sheriff’s office failed to raid the cockfight and make arrests,  Showing Animals Respect & Kindness founder Steve Hindi told ANIMALS 24-7,  even as the March 29,  2025 cockfighting derby continued within camera sight of SHARK drones.

Tennessee Department of Agriculture

Hindi telephoned to confirm the continuing non-response multiple times during the next two days,  including after several frustrating discussions with Monroe County sheriff’s deputies.

Hindi said he was told on March 30,  2025 that his dossier of evidence would be turned over to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

That makes sense.  The poultry industry in Tennessee,  according to the Tennessee Poultry Association,  “has an overall economic impact of $6.5 billion,  provides for over 27,000 direct and indirect jobs,  and accounts for over $438 million paid annually in state and federal taxes.”

The H5N1 avian influenza,  often spread through the transport of gamefowl,  has either killed or brought the prophylactic culling of 456,070 poultry in Tennessee since 2022,  the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported on February 21,  2025.

Who is Cannon Blankenship?

What does not make sense is that the Monroe County sheriff’s office failed to act immediately,  impounding roosters and gathering other evidence.

Alleged cockfighting derby host Cannon Blankenship,  34,  is not exactly unknown either in the Tellico Plains community or among gamecock enthusiasts in Tennessee,  North Carolina,  and surrounding states.

A Tellico Plains resident since arriving from Tryon,  North Carolina in 2006,  Cannon Blankenship attended high school in nearby Sweetwater,  is involved in local youth football,  helped to organize at least one charity softball tournament,  and boasts 3,600 Facebook friends,  mostly among the 46,000 Monroe County residents.

Cannon Blankenship,  claiming to be self-employed,  appears to have worked as a concrete finisher,  and perhaps still does.

Photos worth 1,000 words each

But Cannon Blankenship’s Facebook page,  apart from documenting family life,  documents with close to 1,000 photographs his participation in gamefowl breeding,  cockfighting,  and selling cockfighting paraphernalia,  beginning at least as far back as 2011.

One of those photographs,  showing Cannon Blankenship holding a gamecock,  doubles as his Facebook profile picture.

Also thoroughly photographically documented on Cannon Blankenship’s Facebook page is his apparent side business of breeding and selling pit bull puppies.

Earlier postings also illustrate participation in deer hunting.

Never noticed SHARK drones

Comparably clear from Cannon Blankenship’s social media activity is that he and his friends have a low regard for the American SPCA and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Showing Animals Respect & Kindness so far seems to have escaped their attention,  though cockfights have been busted nearby in Tennessee,  Kentucky,  Alabama,  and North Carolina,  and many convictions won,  as result of SHARK investigative work.

Perhaps Cannon Blankenship imagines his 3,600 Facebook friends are well-connected enough to keep him out of trouble.  After all,  the alleged cockfight on March 29,  2025 was not raided,  despite the wealth of evidence Showing Animals Respect & Kindness sent to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department.

But many of those nearby raids were by federal authorities.  Hindi pledged that the feds––and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation––would have the same files,  and more,  on their desks bright and early on Monday,  March 31,  2025.

Cannon Blankenship may now be taking down many hundreds of Facebook images,  but a bit late,  since Showing Animals Respect & Kindness already has them in evidentiary folders.

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