Animal welfare groups aid in cockfighting raid
HUNT COUNTY – Sunday's raid of a live cockfighting operation north of Greenville that resulted in multiple arrests and the seizure of more than five dozen live roosters began with a tip from concerned citizens made through a pair of Washington-based groups – Animal Wellness Action and Showing Animals Respect and Kindness.
It was the fourth time in the last month that the two organizations had been on site to document illegal cockfighting in North Texas. In Sunday's case, the groups alerted the Hunt County Sheriffs' Office to the staged animal battles in real time. Hunt County sheriffs' deputies responded in force, arrested 21 individuals and seized 67 birds at a major event with approximately 100 attendees.
The HCSO received the call about cockfighting at a residence in the 600 block of Hunt County Road 1006 at approximately 1:40 p.m. on Sunday. Deputies and investigators from the SPCA of Texas arrived on the scene and a search warrant was obtained to investigate further. The ensuing search uncovered fighting rings and paraphernalia commonly used in cockfighting operations. An order of seizure was obtained to seize the live roosters, along with 10 dead ones.
'We applaud the Hunt County Sheriff's office and his team for responding to our urgent call that there was a cockfight in progress – breaking up the fight, causing cockfighters to scatter and apprehending nearly two dozen perpetrators,' said Kevin Chambers, a senior investigator for Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. 'No county should tolerate this malicious animal cruelty, which is a felony under state and federal law.'
Roosters were found in individual pens and transport boxes throughout the property. Other birds were found inside vehicles in transport boxes. Paraphernalia – including short knives and gaffs, scales, a training dummy, syringes, first aid supplies, antibiotics and various performance-enhancing supplements – also were found. An indoor arena containing a makeshift fighting ring and holding pens was splashed with blood and littered with feathers. A concession stand and a merchandise table were inside the building.
'We received a credible tip of a fight in Hunt County and we are grateful to the sheriff and his deputies for responding with urgency to stop more bloodletting,' said Steve Hindi, president of SHARK.
Several of the roosters appeared to be lethargic and severely injured with multiple wounds and after veterinary evaluation, 12 of the roosters were euthanized at the SPCA of Texas' facility in Dallas due to traumatic fighting wounds. A civil custody hearing takes place at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Hunt County Precinct 1, Place 2 Court in Greenville.
According to the HCSO, the investigation remains active and deputies continue to pursue potential charges in the case. Anyone with information, should call the Hunt County Sheriff's Office at (903) 453-6800.
Cockfighting is a crime in all 50 states, including Texas where it is a felony to cause birds to fight with one another and/or to use property for cockfighting. The offense is punishable by up to two years in a state jail and/or a fine up to $10,000. In Texas, it is a Class A misdemeanor to possess, manufacture or sell cockfighting paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor to own or train a rooster with the intent to fight the bird and a Class C misdemeanor to be a spectator at a cockfight. Federal law also prohibits any interstate or foreign transport of fighting animals.
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