California cockfighting ring busted after raids

By Dan Whitcomb

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - After raiding a San Diego district close to the Mexican border, authorities said on Monday they had shut down an extensive illegal cockfighting ring, arresting 50 people and seizing more than 5,000 birds.

The raids, conducted on Saturday, followed a six-month undercover operation, authorities said.

"This is the largest cockfighting ring ever busted up in the United States because of the number of defendants and the number of birds seized," said San Diego County District Attorney's spokesman Paul Levikow.

Those arrested were charged on suspicion of cockfighting and possession of cockfighting implements, charges that carry one year in jail and a 5,000 fine.

Fifty others were still being sought in connection with the ring and those with prior convictions for cockfighting could face more serious felony charges, Levikow said.

Most of the birds seized were euthanized by lethal injection.

"The majority of them can't be pets or used at the dinner table. Most of them are pretty badly damaged. They usually fight to the death," said Levikow.

The bloody sport, in which trained roosters wearing spurs or razors on their feet, battle each other while spectators place bets, will be outlawed in all 50 U.S. states when legislation prohibiting it in Louisiana takes effect next year.

At present it is a felony offense in 35 states compared with 48 states in the case of dogfighting, according to the Humane Society.