Cockfighting - 100 birds found San Jose, CA (US) Incident Date: Saturday, Aug 25, 2007 County: Santa Clara Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Charges: Misdemeanor Abuser names unreleased

Case ID: 12139 Classification: Fighting Animal: chicken View more cases in CA (US) Login to Watch this Case

Police broke up a suspected cockfighting event Saturday morning in unincorporated Santa Clara County that could have ended with up to 100 roosters dead, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office.

At around 10:30 a.m., sheriff's deputies responded to a neighbor's report of loud bird noises at 3770 Quimby Road, Santa Clara County Sgt. Ed Wise said.

Wise said that as soon as police arrived at the four-acre ranch, a group of men at the premises took off running. Approximately 70 to 100 roosters were located on the property, all being kept in separate cages, police said.

Wise said officers also located "cock-fighting paraphernalia, such as spurs that look like miniature razor blades used for causing injuries to other birds."

The paraphernalia included performance-enhancing drugs as well, which officers deemed were for the birds, Wise said.

"[Among the drugs] were vitamins, to make the birds stronger, steroids to help bulk them up and painkillers in the event there is an injury [so] the birds can keep fighting," Wise said.

Officers cited 18 men accused of involvement in the alleged fight, Wise said, with misdemeanor charges classified as being a spectator at a cockfight.

Wise said officers also uncovered money from some of the subjects and added that one man had over $1,000 in his pocket.

The ranch's owner was not one of the men cited and officers are still hoping to contact him in regards to this incident, Wise said.

In July, Santa Clara County passed an ordinance prohibiting residents to own more than four roosters, according to Wise. Owning more qualifies for a misdemeanor charge, Wise said.

Roosters are worth between $200 and $500 apiece, Wise said.

If unclaimed by the ranch's owner, the roosters will fall into the care of Santa Clara County animal control services, Wise said.

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References

NBC News - Aug 25, 2007

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