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.

Thursday 8 June 2017

Val Verde illegal cockfighting ring bust largest in US history, deputies say

By ABC7.com staff
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
VAL VERDE, Calif. (KABC) --

The largest illegal cockfighting ring bust was conducted in northern Los Angeles County on Monday, according to authorities.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said approximately 7,000 birds were recovered from the property in the unincorporated area of Val Verde near Castaic Junction and Santa Clarita.

Most of the birds recovered from the property, which officials said was in a large remote area in a canyon, were commonly used for cockfighting.

Approximately 100 deputies raided the property and found mobile cockfighting rings, syringes, steroids and "slasher" weapons, which were strapped to a rooster's claws during a fight.

"The knife-style of fighting are particularly bloody," Eric Sakach with the Humane Society of the United States said. "The bird is being repeatedly stabbed to the chest area. It's not unusual to hear a bird to start to vomit up or regurgitate blood."

"You'll often see these guys put the bird's head in their mouth and suck the blood out of the bird's throat because that may buy the bird a few extra seconds of breathing to be able to attack its opponent and win the fight," Sakach continued.

Several dead roosters were found with wounds consistent with cockfighting, according to the sheriff's department.

Authorities detained 10 people at the property, and said they were believed to be lower-level employees who tended to the roosters.

Continued

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