Cockfighting - 116 birds seized
Dunkirk, NY (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Dec 10, 2008
County: Chautauqua

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Concepcion Virella

Authorities found 116 fighting roosters at a western New York house and have charged the homeowner with animal fighting.

Concepcion Virella was arrested Wednesday by Chautauqua County sheriff's officials, who say the 74-year-old kept the roosters in cages in the basement of his Dunkirk home and other buildings on his property.

Investigators believe the birds, some worth up to $3,000 each, belonged to people from Buffalo. State law required euthanizing all of them on the property.

Also found were a fighting pit, stuffed training roosters used to make the birds more aggressive and boxing gloves to put over the birds' spurs.

A phone listing for Virella was not in service Wednesday. The sheriff's office did not know whether he has a lawyer.

References

• « NY State Animal Cruelty Map

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