Cockfighting - 170 birds
Austin, TX (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Dec 20, 2007
County: Travis

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Leonel Jimenez Rodriguez

Travis County Sheriff's deputies arrested 16 people and confiscated six roosters during a raid in far East Travis County Thursday night.

They were bloody and injured.

Four had to be euthanized and two are in quarantine at the Town Lake Animal Center.

Sheriff's department officials say they can't remember ever discovering an illegal animal operation quite like this one.

"We didn't know a thing, we were shocked to hear it," said neighbor Vonda Sparks.

Around 5:00 pm Thursday, sheriff's deputies received a call from a concerned resident about a possible cock-fighting operation in progress at a residence off Blake Manor Road.

Deputies say once they arrived - the signs of an illegal operation were obvious.

"There were hay bales set up on the make-shift arena, there were obvious deceased roosters there that had been fighting," said Sgt. Richard Hale, Travis County Sheriff's Department.

Deputies say when they arrived people took off running.

They were able to arrest 16 men. All are charged with animal cruelty.

Officers believe the operation was extensive... And they don't believe this was the first cock-fight to take place here.

When we returned to the scene Friday afternoon, you could still see dozens of chickens and roosters in the yard.

Deputies only confiscated six that were obviously injured.

Four had to be euthanized. Two are still alive.

"We're a little upset because we think it's cruelty to the animals, and we're just in shock," said Sparks.

Deputies say what happened here serves as a wake-up call…. reminding residents to keep a close watch on their neighborhood.

"Most of the crimes in Travis County require citizens to help us and that's what happened in this case."

Deputies say more charges are possible in this ongoing investigation.

They believe the man who lived at the residence, 29-year-old Leonel Jimenez Rodriguez was the ringleader of this cock-fighting operation.

References

• KXAN - Dec 21, 2007
• KVUE - Dec 22, 2007

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