Dozens of roosters were found dead, and dozens more were euthanized, after a Nevada cockfighting ring was broken up.
The Lyon County sheriff’s office said a deputy acting on an anonymous tip witnessed roosters fighting in “an open-air barn” and “hand-to-hand wagering” in rural Silver Springs, about 40 miles east of Reno, earlier this month.
The sheriff said Friday that 28 people had been arrested in connection to the illegal operation and are facing undisclosed felony charges. However, some suspects fled the scene when deputies and animal control officers arrived.
A total of 59 dead roosters were found at the barn “in and around a garbage can located outside a makeshift ‘fighting’ ring.’” Officials also recovered a number of pieces of equipment associated with animal fighting. Cockfighting birds are typically outfitted with razors or metal spurs to wound their opponent.
An additional 96 live chickens were found, two of which had injuries consistent with bird-fighting and died soon after. At least three hens were rescued from the barn and re-homed. The Nevada Department of Agriculture euthanized the remaining 91 roosters.
“We applaud Lyon County sheriff’s deputies for their work to raid a major cockfighting operation in progress, apprehend participants, and spare more birds the inevitable fate of being hacked to death in a fighting pit,” Wayne Pacelle, the president of Animal Wellness Action, said in a statement.
“Cockfighting is not only barbaric, but also bound up with illegal gambling, narcotics trafficking, and other criminal activities. Cockfighters need to understand that when they decide to violate our anti-cruelty laws, there can be life-changing consequences.”
Animal Wellness Action has offered a reward for information that leads to additional arrests in the case.