Ten men were arrested in Mountain City on gambling and animal cruelty charges related to cockfighting.
The men all signed their own $2,200 bonds on misdemeanor charges of gambling and conspiracy to commit animal cruelty.
"Somebody called that in," said Rabun County Sheriff's Deputy Marty Talley about what led to the arrests. "It was a tip."
What authorities found about 1 p.m. Saturday when they arrived at the end of Parker Robinson Lane were about 200 chickens, chicken fighting equipment and a video tape showing past fights.
Five children, ranging in age from 3-16, also were present. Talley said the 16-year-old boy, who was shown engaging in cockfighting on the videotape, likely would face juvenile charges.
Items seized by authorities included $6,000 cash from the 11 suspects and cameras. Deputies also seized scales, gloves, and knives and spurs, which are worn by chickens on their feet.
Only about 40 chickens appeared to be part of the pending cockfight, half of which were on the ground and the other half in cages. Talley saw money changing hands.
"I think they were just getting started," he said. "They didn't really have an opportunity to get going."
Talley said the suspects claimed they were just practicing for cockfights in Tennessee, where the activity is legal. One suspect had a piece of paper that listed names and amounts of bets. He wadded it up and tried to hide it in his pocket, but Talley seized it.
Veterinarian Stephen Arbitter checked out the animals for injuries.
"If any of them had been injured, we would have taken them, but we didn't," stated Sheriff Don Page.
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