Cockfighting is still legal in the Dominican Republic, so Pedro wasn't actually breaking any laws, but there's a reason that it's illegal in this country: It's a hideously cruel, barbaric practice that's nothing short of torture for the animals involved. The damage is done now, sadly, but we're asking Pedro Martinez and Hall of Famer Juan Marichal (who was also present at the event) to take part in our "Developing Empathy For Animals" training seminar, which Michael Vick voluntarily attended after being charged, so hopefully some good will come of it. We're also calling on the league to offer animal-sensitivity training for MLB players.

Yes, PETA is calling for commissioner Bud Selig to require all MLB players to attend animal-sensitivity training sessions. I see absolutely no way this will fail to happen. Barry Bonds: "You have to get me signed with a team, Jeff! I don't want to miss that animal seminar!" And, um, how many major leaguers are hunters? I think quite a few.

The letter can be found here. I'm with PETA in the sense that I don't see how cockfighting can be condoned as a sport. It's nothing less than torture, really. The same way I felt about middle school PE.

Pedro Martinez Cockfighting Video [TMZ]
Pedro Martinez Attends A Cockfighting Event [The PETA Files]
This Should Cause The Mets No PR Problems Whatsoever [Deadspin]

Martinez and Marichal laugh before releasing the roosters. The two took part as honorary "soltadores," the word used to describe the person who puts the animal to fight. The animal released by Martinez appears to be killed on the video, which was posted Tuesday on YouTube. The fight takes place in the Coliseo de Gallos (Rooster Coliseum) in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic's biggest cockfighting venue. Cockfighting is legal and popular in the Dominican Republic.

This very well could be a non-story, but as always the court of public opinion will have the final say. And by that I mean there could be some very comical chicken costumes in the stands during Mets away games this season.

We should note: Despite my feeling that people who participate in this "sport" should be dropped from a blimp onto an enormous cactus, it is completely legal in the Dominican Republic. Wait, this post is getting too serious. Um, so, here's this!

Mets' Pedro Caught On Tape At Cock Fight [MSNBC]
Let Us Rid Ourselves Of The Cockfighting PED Menace [Deadspin]