Deputies break up cockfight, make arrests in Valinda (San Gabriel Valley)-photos

Community Message has been issued by the LASD - Headquarters Newsroom (SHB), Los Angeles County Sheriff.
Sunday May 15, 2011 10:38 AM PDT

Deputies break up cockfight, make arrests in Valinda (San Gabriel Valley)-photos
(To see photos, click on the hyperlink at the bottom of this message)

Deputies broke up a cockfight in the unincorporated community of Valinda Saturday morning, after a concerned person heard the pained sounds of roosters fighting, and called Industry Sheriff's Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

When deputies arrived at the house on the 15800 block of Fairgrove Avenue at about 10:20AM, they saw about 40 male spectators and illegal cockfight operators run away in all directions. They were able to arrest three of them.

Deputies saw an illegal cockfighting arena covered by plastic tarps in the rear yard of the residence. There were approximately 50 roosters found on the property, several of which were bloodied and appeared to have been killed during the illegal fight. The roosters had been groomed for fighting, with their combs and waddles cut off.

The animals were recovered by officers with the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control.

There were several other items recovered from the scene that are commonly used for illegal cockfight operations. These include kits of razor-sharp metal talons that cockfighters tie to the roosters' feet to make the fight more deadly; tie materials (string, rubber bands, moleskin padding), and misc. tools like scissors, small saws, and sandpaper.

Not only is cockfighting illegal and inhumane, but even attending and watching such an event is a crime. Just being a spectator is illegal and you can be arrested for it.

Cock-fighting, dog fighting, and other forms of animal fighting are not a sport, they are a felony. So is animal cruelty.
A conviction for felony animal cruelty can result in a sentence of up to 3 years in prison.
Three suspects were arrested at the scene for being present.