As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Friday 30 August 2013

Sheriff’s: Antelope Valley cockfighting ring disbanded

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s officials said Monday they’ve disbanded an Antelope Valley cockfighting ring involving hundreds of birds but have yet to issue any citations.

A search warrant was served at a ranch-style Juniper Hills home Thursday on the 34200 block of 90th Street East, after an allegation of a cockfighting operation surfaced.

Animal control officers found 279 birds at the location, including nearly 240 who’d had their combs, waddles and rear feathers removed to prepare them for fighting. The remaining 40 birds were hens, which were used for breeding, authorities said.

“One bird obviously wins ... It can be deadly,” said Lt. Keith Lieberman of the Sheriff’s Department Community-Oriented Services (COPS) Bureau. “They have razor blades hooked onto where their spurs are.”

The birds were full-grown and appeared to be in decent health, Lieberman said.

The man who deputies say was raising the birds, Amado Herrera, has not been arrested but is expected to be cited for possession of fighting birds, which is a misdemeanor. Lieberman said he expects a case, which could include other people, to be filed with the District Attorney’s Office this week.

A 20-gauge shotgun, ammunition, razor blades, spurs and medicines were also seized as a result of the search warrant.

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