Cockfighting - 18 birds seized
Muhlenberg, PA (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Mar 10, 2009
County: Berks

Disposition: Alleged

Abuser names unreleased

The Humane Society of Berks County says it has seized 18 roosters suspected of being used in a cockfighting ring. Officials from the society say they acted in conjunction with Muhlenberg Township Police on an anonymous tip and found a fighting ring in the 4700-block of Wentzel Avenue Tuesday. Humane Society officials say the resident and owner of the house surrendered the birds. WFMZ's Joel D. Smith reports.

Heckart: They were getting ready to. That ring was freshly constructed and as far as we could tell hadn't been used yet, so we may have caught it just in time.

Reporter: What they think they caught is a cockfighting ring operating out of 4704 Wentzel Avenue in this secluded part of Muhlenberg Township.

Jason Rogers : There's not a lot of traffic on this street, so it's one of those things where I didn't even realize this was going on.

Chief : Had I got a call or been told we disrupted a dog fighting ring,

"I don't think I would have been so taken aback, but ' we got a cockfighting ring going on", a what?"

Reporter: Humane Society of Berks County officials say there were three individual coops with hens inside, each with a rooster for breeding. Then inside a closed shed, they say there were 5 more roosters prepping to be fought. All 18 birds are now at the Humane Society's facility in Reading. It depends on how the case goes, so it's unclear how long the birds will actually be here, but in the meantime caring for these birds can be very challenging.

Heckart: Those birds are aggressive, they do pose a threat to our staff when handled, we have to utilize caution when we handle those birds.

Reporter: Since no one has been charged yet, names of the owners have not been released. According to county records, the property is owned by Nichole Avilla. Charges are expected later this week.

Heckart: This is a recurring problem. I know we aren't catching all of it obviously. But we deal with a major animal fighting case once every 2 years at the shelter.

References

• WFMZ - March 13, 2009

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