Cockfighting - 47 birds
Bronx, NY (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Jan 23, 2009
County: Bronx

Disposition: Alleged

Abuser names unreleased

Federal authorities busted a cockfighting ring late Friday that was brazenly operating in the basement of a Bronx apartment building.

The feds raided the building at 3039 Wallace Ave. shortly before midnight and arrested eight people for running the brutal betting ring.

Forty-three roosters were euthanized after the bust, according to Richard Gentles, a spokesman for Animal Care and Control of New York City.

"This was a cruel and inhumane opertion," Gentles said. "The roosters cannot be placed with other chickens. They are trained to fight and are normally in bad shape."

The NYPD gave summonses to 69 people for watching the blood sport, sources said.

The basement of the building - which is in the Olinville section of the Bronx - is a warren of small rooms, with several chairs and trash strewn about. There was no visible evidence of cockfighting after the raid.

News of the ring stunned some building residents.

References

• Daily News - Jan 24, 2009

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