The Antelope Valley Times

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1,000+ birds seized in Lancaster cockfighting bust

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[Images courtesy LASD]
LANCASTER – More than 1,000 birds believed to be used in illegal cockfighting were seized when authorities raided a property in Lancaster as part of an ongoing animal cruelty investigation involving the breeding and fighting of game fowl.

The search warrant was served April 10 on the 6300 block of East Avenue E, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Information Bureau. The operation was conducted by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department personnel assigned to the Community Partnerships Bureau.

“Personnel from the L.A. County Department of Animal Care and Control, with the assistance of members of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Los Angeles, responded to the location in order to examine, care for and take possession of the animals,” the news release states.

“Several people were detained and questioned, however, no arrests have been made,” the news release states.

Cockfighting involves two roosters fighting each other to death. Rooster handlers or cockfighters often allow birds who suffer injuries during fights to go untreated or throw the birds in the trash, according to the sheriff’s department.

“Having animals fight to death along with letting them go untreated is not only cruel but often times goes hand-in-hand with gambling, drug-dealing and other illegal activities,” sheriff’s officials said in the news release.

The investigation is ongoing and no additional information was immediately available.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the sheriff’s Community Partnerships Bureau at 323-981-5300. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

[LASD]
[LASD]
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29 comments for "1,000+ birds seized in Lancaster cockfighting bust"

  1. Rex earmarked $10 million tax dollars for a hair-brained scheme known as the ‘eye in the sky’ which was supposed to lower crime. It hasn’t.

    Then has banned pit bulls to lower crime in Lancaster. It has had no effect.

    Next, he forbid the burial of dead terrorists. No change.

    Reaching a new low, he called an African American veteran candidate for city council a ‘gang candidate’ and said he would share vital information with gangs. Crime continued.

    Maybe stopping cock fights will give Rex the victory he needs in his losing battle against crime. Don’t hold your breath.

  2. We waste 1000s of pounds of chicken every single day but thats not a crime right. Who cares they are chickens.

  3. Laughing.. human sacrifice was popular with the Aztec leadership…so what. Whats your point?

    • We just need a fair election process in Lancaster. Let’s start by having elections on Election Day in November, instituting districts so East Lancaster is represented, and have an outside entity count the votes. No need to do what the Aztecs did to clean up the corruption in Lancaster.

    • My point was “Sad.” As it is is sad that the sport is still popular.

      Also cockfighting is illegal in the US, in all 50 states. 39 states it is a felony. California is a mixed bag of felony and misdemeanor.

      I agree game bird shows are just like horse shows, dog shows, silly human shows.

      • They are called wobblers and its up to the D.A. if he wants to make them a felony or misdemeanor. There in-lies the problem. D.A’s have to much power and they do not convict in a uniform way.

  4. Were these the birds Rex used to use to make birdie sounds on the BLVD to, ahem, lower crime? What a loonie.

  5. First of all a law or ordinance hasn’t been established it is in very early stages of discussion and forums.
    Second breeding and raising Game Fowl is not against the law it is a way of preserving blood lines for shows and exhibitions if an individual chooses to fight Game Fowl that is their individual decision a breeder can’t control what an individual does with a rooster or chicken.
    Third the public need to be properly educated as to the nature of Game Fowl preservation not be misinformed with wrong information.
    Game Fowl are beautiful animals and it’s a pleasure to show birds at proper venues.
    Lastly the staging area for this raid was on 70th St East but it took place quite a distance away from the staging area and involved more than has been written in this article or other news outlets.

  6. … as per Karl Marx, “… to each according to need,” hallmark characteristic of a sanctuary state: different laws, for different people; select leniencies for specific cohorts. As per Hegelian dialect, LASD caught red-handed, going soft on the dog fighting and the cockfighting –

    • … theory of bureaucratic behavior looming large, no differently than the NAACP, MADD, Homeland Security, or the Federal Reserve, LASD could be legitimately classified, an offsetting bureaucracy. For example, what’s the worst thing that could happen to, Mother’s Against Drunk Drivers, or the National Association for Advancement of Colored Peoples? The answer may surprise you. That no more drunk drivers would certainly spell the and MADD’s totem pole?That no more “racism” (e.g., social pressure on the black community to assimilate) would certainly spell the end of the NAACP’s special interest group lobby? These offsetting bureaucracies inevitably become intertwined, eventually captured and subverted, by the very thing they once detested. Similarly so, LASD, in their newfangled sweet-tooth, for dog-fighting and cockfighting.

  7. no arrests because no one had blood on their hands? obviously from the photos this place has been up and running for a while. I personally don’t agree with the sport and I think whoever is involved should be prosecuted to the fullest. if people want to cockfight then they need to go to the countries where it’s legal. as far as any birds that are uninjured and healthy, what will become of them since LA passed or is passing a new law that you can only own a maximum of 3 roosters? maybe the county should take possession and have a big cookout for all the homeless that they don’t want.

    • No arrests made because at a guess there was no evidence to connect 1000 roosters in cages to any actual crimes. It appears the LASD expected more from their raid, but went off half cocked.

    • maybe there were no arrests because there was no evidence to that effect but the comment “… they need to go to the countries where it’s legal.” is more verbiage that says more about you than the isue of game bird fighting

  8. Yet the authorities still won’t shut down the cock fighting at 15805 Newmont in lake la.

  10. It seems like it was just a year ago that the same thing happened, and every single on of the seized birds were euthanized. Could it be that the problem is that there is not stiff enough penalties?

    • Hmm…. cock-fighting and “stiff” penalties…. the jokes I could make are endless. Just wondering are you related to Lee? He was AVHS 1972, I was 1973.

  11. This might come as a surprise to some, but Jerry Brown isn’t responsible for this blood sport. Open your minds, and stop blaming DACA Dreamers for everything. This sport has been around for thousands of years, and yes, even some politicians, farmers, teachers, doctors, etc., attend these fights. $10,000.00 fine at most.

    • Yeah, people often do not learn how popular this sport was with the white leadership of America from the colonies through the Civil War period. Still is popular with people from all skin tones. Sad.

  13. Wasn’t this on Ave I and 70th East?
    I passed by the abs the were a lot of animal control and sherriff activity