The Antelope Valley Times

Your community. Your issues. Your news.

  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Local
    • Palmdale
    • Lancaster
    • Los Angeles County
    • Littlerock
    • Lake Los Angeles
    • Rosamond
    • Edwards AFB
    • Acton
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Advertise
    • About
    • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Show Search

L.A. County takes steps to stop illegal cockfighting

by City News Service • December 20, 2017

[File]
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to take steps to limit the number of roosters residents can keep, aiming to stop illegal cockfighting.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger pointed to the seizure of nearly 7,000 birds in a May 15 raid in an unincorporated community in the Santa Clarita Valley.

“Cockfighting is an inhumane crime in which animals are forced to fight to the death for amusement and gain,” Barger said in her motion, co-authored by Supervisor Sheila Kuehl. “Other crimes such as gambling, illegal drugs, weapons, prostitution and child abuse occur during these fights.”

The Santa Clarita Valley raid was the largest seizure of illegal cockfighting birds in U.S. history, according to the county Department of Animal Care and Control.

All of those birds had to be euthanized because of the aggressive nature of roosters bred for fighting and also because of concerns about the spread of disease. Thousands of chickens statewide had to be euthanized in 2003 when fighting chickens brought from Mexico into the U.S. were found to have Exotic Newcastle Disease.

Neighbors are typically alerted by noise and odor when large numbers of birds are housed nearby. But paraphernalia for fights is often kept separate from the birds, making it hard for deputies to make arrests and shut down illegal operations.

A number of California counties have fought back by adopting ordinances restricting the keeping of roosters, and Barger and Kuehl said the changes have been effective.

“Los Angeles County should have the same protections for its residents,” according to their motion. Read the motion here.

County lawyers and animal control personnel were directed to come up with a recommendation to limit the number of birds and report back in 30 days. Any ordinance would apply only to unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, including Quartz Hill, Littlerock and Lake Los Angeles.

Officials are urging anyone observing animal abuse or neglect to call animal care and control officials at 562-940-6898 and to report any cockfight in action to 911.

–

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety, Lake Los Angeles, Littlerock

7 comments for "L.A. County takes steps to stop illegal cockfighting"

  1. cappy says

    December 23, 2017 at 8:07 am

    15805 newmont street in lake Los Angeles. They are so proud of their fighting birds that they are displayed for all to see as they drive by their backyard. Animal control and the police department do absolutely nil for these animals. Besides their birds, they have starving horses and calves in their backyard. Dogs come and go there also. Sad. Karma….

    • iris says

      March 5, 2018 at 1:57 am

      are you on facebook by chance?? how can i contact you???

  2. Carl says

    December 22, 2017 at 4:21 pm

    … here in the sanctuary city of Mexifornia, the de facto number 1 sport is a tie, between cockfighting & dog fighting –

  3. Laughing says

    December 20, 2017 at 7:19 pm

    Rooster:
    Defined as that tasty bird you put into soup.

  4. Alexis says

    December 20, 2017 at 10:58 am

    O.K., it is all 50 states now. Still, those so called God-fearing people that pay taxes are very influential. It is a billion dollar blood sport.

  5. Ron says

    December 20, 2017 at 7:39 am

    Well this is what you get when you allow illegals to pour in and welcome them with open arms. Also Americans will be murdered by illegals like that women in SF. This is what you get when you vote liberals in. We should expect more of these problems.

    • Alexis says

      December 20, 2017 at 10:47 am

      Ron, there are men and women with powerful friends in Washington that run cockfighting. God-fearing citizens that pay taxes. It is illegal in California, and most other states. I believe there are three states that allow legal cockfighting. When you have big money involved, it becomes secretive.

Recent Comments

  • Tim Scott on Readers Speak Out! (July 2022): “Darn it, they are deleting faster than I can respond to Beecee et al and their mudslinging.” Aug 11, 14:16
  • Tim Scott on Readers Speak Out! (July 2022): “LOL…typical response. No argument with the meat of the observation…since of course none is really possible…so throw some name calling…” Aug 11, 14:15
  • Tim Scott on Readers Speak Out! (July 2022): “How to deal with large groups and criminal activity is always an interesting debate. Should we allow law enforcement to…” Aug 11, 14:11
  • Sonya on Circus Vargas returns to Palmdale Aug. 19 with a new production: “Hahahaha, Sicko” Aug 11, 14:10
  • Ghetto Dweller on Ribbon cutting ceremony planned for Rancho Vista Park on Aug. 16: “Someone will be shot at the park before the trees are big enough to provide any shade” Aug 11, 14:09

Copyright © 2022 · The AV Times LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of Use