Cockfighting - as many as 600 birds found
Sacramento, CA (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Jul 4, 2007
County: Sacramento
Disposition: Alleged
Abuser names unreleased
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Sacramento County sheriff's deputies said they busted an elaborate cockfighting operation in south Sacramento over the July 4 holiday.
An anonymous tip led authorities to 8950 Tokay Lane, where deputies said they found several men fleeing on foot when deputies approached the location.
Deputies said they found 300 to 600 birds at the location -- some dead or close to dying, and some alive. Cockfighting equipment, such as spears and small knives, were found as well, authorities said.
The property is a rental home. Investigators said they do not believe that the property owners knew of any wrongdoing.
Case UpdatesWhen authorities broke up the cockfighting ring, up to 600 fighting birds were left on the farm. Now, there are lots of empty cages because the estimated number of foul has plummeted to 150. Breeders have been sneaking back to the busted cockfighting ring farm, to steal the birds back-- and there's no way to stop them.
"We're stuck between a rock and a hard place. There's just no place to put this number of birds," said Eric Sakach, Humane Society of the US.
The Humane Society assisted in the raid and say they don't expect the Sheriff's Department to post a guard on the birds; which could be kept on this farm for up to a year until the case goes to trial. The investigation has revealed that fights were held at the farm every Friday night. Now that the breeders have their birds back, there's a good chance they have already found a new venue.
The tenants have taken off. The job of feeding and watering the birds has fallen on law enforcement, leaving a foul situation that is ruffling quite a few feathers.
"The area is completely changed. Many birds have been removed there. It's quite disheartening. It's just an unfortunate situation," said Sakach.
Despite the fact that birds are getting stolen on a nightly basis, the Humane Society is defending law enforcement, and saying that they're just not equipped to handle the situation, and that laws for cockfighting need to be changed. | Source: CBS 13 - July 11, 2007
Update posted on Jul 17, 2007 - 1:38PM |
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