Cockfighting - 19 birds seized
Kuna, ID (US)Incident Date: Friday, Feb 23, 2007
County: Ada
Disposition: Alleged
Abuser names unreleased
A cock-fighting ring has been busted after a routine DUI check. Police found nearly two dozen roosters in a Kuna Barn Feb 23 night. They're now with the Humane Society as officers work to get arrest warrants ready.
Dr. Jeff Rosenthal treated three birds for lacerations.
Nampa police were tipped to the scene after officers pulled over a vehicle on suspicion of DUI. In the car were crates with the fighting cocks inside.
The driver lead police to a barn in Kuna, and that's there police say the fighting was taking place.
"This situation occurred at the same scene in which we issued a citation for cockfighting in 2004 so for this property, this is the second time we've found this activity going on," said Dr. Jeff Rosenthal, Executive Director of the Humane Society.
The Ada County Sheriff's Office is working on warrants for potential arrests. It's a misdemeanor violation and Rosenthal says that's a minimal penalty for many.
"We are concerned about the weakness of our laws relative to other states. And that Idaho may come really a place where animal fighting occurs more frequently because of our week laws," said Rosenthal.
Rosenthal says catching animal fights is difficult, yet there are indications like badly torn up dogs that indicate fights are taking place.
"This is a very covert culture often related to gang activity and it is very difficult for the police departments to actually discover one of these in progress. We think there is a lot that goes on beneath the surface and we just see some of the signs from time to time," said Rosenthal.
Now the Humane Society has to wait for the courts to decide who will have custody of the birds. Rosenthal said animals like these are often difficult to adopt out.
"One of the tragedy of dog and cockfighting is these animals live a life in which they are treated cruelly and then have to be euthanized when they are seized," said Rosenthal.
Rosenthal worries that if the birds are crossing state lines, there could be a problem with diseases. He said there are also a threat of humans contacting potential diseases because of the close contact between the people involved and the animals. References
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