Attorney General Steve Six and Humane Society officials are encouraging Kansans to help combat cockfighting and dog fighting.

The Humane Society of the United States is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in animal fighting, which is illegal in Kansas, Six announced Tuesday.

“Animal fighting causes the suffering of hundreds of thousands of animals every year, but it also negatively impacts our communities with violence, illegal gambling and other crimes,” Six said Tuesday in a news release.

Cockfighting and dog fighting are happening in the Lawrence area, said Midge Grinstead, Lawrence Humane Society executive director. “Enough dogs … turn up or die that we know it’s going on,” she said. “We’re just not finding (those responsible).”

Anyone with information about animal fighting should call law enforcement or animal control, the attorney general’s office said.