How SHARK Uses Drones To Fight Animal Cruelty

Cockfighting is illegal in every state, yet the events continue in hidden barns, remote fields and behind fences built to block curious eyes. But these fences are no match for drones.

Showing Animals Respect and Kindness, better known as SHARK, is a small nonprofit from Illinois that has spent almost twenty years exposing abuse from above. SHARK uses drones to record cruelty that would otherwise stay hidden and to push law enforcement to take action.

Founder Steve Hindi says the mission is simple. Show people what is happening and let the truth do the heavy lifting. Video does not need big speeches. It just needs clear images.

In the early 2000s, SHARK began experimenting with remote controlled helicopters. When the first multirotor drones arrived, the group saw a chance to truly scale its work. A five hundred thousand dollar grant from the late Bob Barker helped them buy their first drone fleet. Hindi jokes that being a licensed pilot does not magically make you a good drone pilot. They had to learn from scratch.

Their first real field mission happened in 2010. The target was a live pigeon shoot, where shooters fire at birds launched from traps. Hindi says some people want to kill animals without hunting, preparing or even eating them. They simply want the act of killing.

Those early drones were rough. Cameras shook. Batteries died fast. But SHARK kept improving as drones improved. German models helped first. Then DJI arrived and everything changed. Gimbals got smoother. Cameras got sharper. Flight times grew.

Today SHARK operates everything from Mavic Minis to Matrice 400s. Each drone has a specific purpose. Some slip into tight spaces. Others fly high and steady for long operations.

Documenting Cruelty Across the Country

SHARK has used drones to expose a long list of abuses. The group has recorded cockfights, steer tailing at rodeos and illegal hunting events. One major win involved cownose rays in the Chesapeake Bay. Every spring these rays swim near the surface to spawn. Hunters in boats fired arrows at them and dragged them on board.

SHARK recorded hunters dumping the bodies back into the water after weighing them. The claim that the hunters ate the rays was not true. The video helped end the practice.

In 2022 SHARK also played a key role in exposing abuse at a beagle breeding facility in Virginia.

The dogs had outdoor pens filled with waste. Some were fighting. Some were cage crazy. SHARK’s drones were the first to record proof. The investigation eventually led to the rescue of four thousand beagles. Larger animal groups later joined the case, but SHARK’s footage triggered the chain reaction.

The group has also broken up cockfighting operations in Texas, California and Delaware. Their drones have been shot at so often that SHARK jokes it may hold the record for most aircraft taken down by angry criminals. In one day in South Carolina, they lost three drones to gunfire. They never share how many drones they carry because the answer could encourage more shooters.

Flying legally is a constant challenge. SHARK pilots are Part 107 certified and must track laws in every state they visit. Some states, like Illinois, are hands off and allow flights over private property. Others, like Texas, restrict image collection over private land. SHARK also respects the federal rule about avoiding flights over people. It is safer and also provides better viewing angles.

A Small Group With a Big Impact

SHARK uses creativity and tech to punch far above its weight. Many larger animal rights groups focus on campaigns and fundraising. SHARK focuses on evidence. Its footage has forced police departments, state agencies and even federal offices to confront cruelty they could not ignore.

The group even earned a spot on a 2013 episode of NOVA titled Rise of the Drones. SHARK also launches drones from boats when the abuse happens on open water.

Their approach has caused such frustration among abusers that lawmakers have tried to ban SHARK drones. One Virginia senator pushed a bill to criminalize remote aircraft after SHARK filmed a pigeon shoot. An Oklahoma lawmaker tried something similar after SHARK exposed a pigeon killing event tied to Senator James Inhofe. Both efforts failed.

SHARK continues to inspire other organizations in the US, Europe, Africa and Australia. Many now plan to use drones for similar investigations. SHARK sees this as a win. The more cameras in the sky, the fewer places abusers can hide.

The nonprofit is always looking for skilled or aspiring drone pilots who want to help. SHARK relies heavily on volunteers and welcomes anyone with interest in saving animals through aerial documentation.

DroneXL’s Take

SHARK shows what happens when a small team uses drones with purpose. They do not chase views or viral clips. They chase evidence. Their work proves that drones are more than flying cameras. They are tools that change outcomes. They save animals, pressure lawmakers and expose cruelty that would never be seen from the ground. If more nonprofits used drones with this level of commitment, a lot fewer bad actors would sleep well at night.

Photo credit: Sharkonline.org