Cockfighting - over 100 birds seized
Ramsey, MN (US)Incident Date: Sunday, Aug 31, 2008
County: Ramsey
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available
Alleged: David Kao Xiong
With a wall of caged live chickens as their backdrop--some starving, others scarred, bleeding or featherless with their beaks hacked off--Animal Humane Society officials decried the cruelty of another Twin Cities-area cockfighting breeding and training operation on the day its accused proprietor faces felony charges.
This operation, punctuated by more than 100 chickens ranging in age from small chicks to adult Thai Fighting Cocks, has resulted in five gross misdemeanor charges against adults attending the cockfight, while 23-year-old David Kao Xiong of Ramsey is charged with felony cruelty to animals for animal fighting.
The birds, in varying conditions of health, are now in the custody of the Animal Humane Society of Golden Valley after they were confiscated by authorities with the Anoka County Sheriff's office Saturday night.
"Based on what we have seen, this was more of a raising, training and housing operation," said Keith Streff, senior Humane Investigator with the Animal Humane Society. "What we have seen fits what leads to the very violent deaths of these birds.
Acting on an anonymous tip, Ramsey police officers responded to a home in the 16820 Zirconium Street NW, where they found the operation in progress in barn-like building behind the home complete with two roosters in a ring preparing to fight. Also found near a blood-spattered ring were hundreds of malnourished and mistreated chickens, several lacking evidence of any medical care.
According to charges filed Tuesday afternoon, Xiong told police he was just watching the property for the owners, who were out of town.
When authorities returned with a search warrant the following day, authorities and seized the birds and equipment, as well as an electric fry pan used to irritate the birds prior to a a fight by dipping their talons in the hot oil. Xiong then admitted to hosting a cockfighting event.
Xiong remains in the Anoka County Jail. References
« More cases in Ramsey County, MN
|
