Cockfighting
San Diego, CA (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Apr 10, 2003
County: San Diego
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Joseph Bamoa
Joseph Bamoa, 50, was arrested Thursday at a ranch on Rainbow Creek Road by San Diego Humane Society investigators on charges of possessing 64 fighting gamecocks and materials used in cockfighting - all misdemeanors.
Bamoa was released pending a court date. He could not be reached yesterday for comment.
Authorities said they confiscated a large quantity of cockfighting paraphernalia, including razor-sharp "slashers" and gaffs, which are ice pick-like devices attached to birds' legs.
Humane Society law enforcement chief Capt. Beau Beauregard said investigators are following leads that may result in additional arrests.
"Cockfighting is a heinous, barbaric activity," he said. "We are putting cockfighters, dog fighters, and other animal abusers in San Diego County on notice."
In cockfighting, birds are placed in a pit to fight to the death. Even the victor can suffer serious injuries such as punctured lungs, broken limbs and pierced eyes. Aficionados bet amounts from $50 to several thousand dollars on cockfights, which are illegal in 48 states. Louisiana and New Mexico are the only states that allow cockfighting.
Officials said they euthanized two dozen birds at the Rainbow residence that Bamoa admitted he owned. "Unfortunately, there's nothing else that you can do with them," said society spokesman Gigi Bacon Theberge. She said fighting cocks are usually so drugged, distressed, diseased and violent that they can't be placed with other flocks.
The other birds remain at the Rainbow property because of concerns about Newcastle disease until their owners attempt to claim them. The birds will probably be euthanized after a required 13-day waiting period. References« CA State Animal Cruelty Map
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