Discovered:60+ Cockfighting Roosters-CAGED. What should I do?!

[LiLRedCV]

You don't have to physically go back over there to get the address. Check Zillow.com for your own address and then browse the neighborhood via satellite until you find the right one (probably has pics of the pens up) and grab the address from there.

Unfortunately, when the authorities show up over there, the first person they're going to suspect for turning them in is you.

 

[OSUman]

It isnt Illegal to keep roosters cage, also if its zoned agriculture then they can keep what they want with in the laws of controled animals. If they just have what appear to be fighting roosters then they couldnt be charged with anything, even if you say they have been fighting them by hear say. They would have to catch them in the act in order to get them with anything. Also if confiscated all the animals on the premises will most likely be put to death.

 

[rufus]

Before you act, remember that sometimes pay back can be a real pain. You turn them in for having roosters, and then they turn you in for being the creepy kid poking around other peoples' property. Who are the cops going to be concerned about, potential chicken dinners or a potential burglar or sex pervert lurking in the neighborhood?

Better forget about it.

Rufus

 

[Christie Rhae]

Here in Hawaii cockfighting is quite popular. There is a crazy loop hole. You can raise all the fighting cocks you want. They are proudly displayed in people's front yards tied to their little A frame shacks just a few feet from each other. Rows and rows of them. But here is the thing.. it is illegal to fight them. They have to be actually caught fighting the birds. So I would think that the folks who are serious about fighting cocks do not make it obvious that they are raising them. That would bring heat down on them.
I wonder if your neighbors would be in any trouble at all for having the birds. They may have to be actually caught in the act for any action to be taken even if they truly are raising fighting cocks for the sole purpose of fighting them.

 

[upthecreek]

Highly inappropriate rant removed.

 

[wolftracks]

Quote:
I can't turn my back on this. I won't shun this away. To me it's a moral responsibility to protect all life.

This is contridictory. You report this guy, the birds die, plain and simple. Someone also mentioned the AR people who become invovled and they are not there to help those animals, only to make sure that this man loses his and that later down the line, no one can own a bird. Don't care what the breed is.

When I was just 2 years older than you I helped shut down some major dog fighting rings. The first one not only mad me sick, I also found out how dangerous it really is to be there for the reason I was. They had me do it, because I trained and showed and I was constantly being approached by ringers. More in a minute.

First, you really have no idea for absolute sure, that this man fights his birds. I've have Games. All in smaller cages away from eachother. They get tarped, but those birds are some tough little things. There are actually about 25 or more of them that have been raised wold in my neighborhood. A neighbor had to doctor one up a couple of weeks ago, because it fought another bird and did rip the heck out of his comb. He's right back out there. They come out of the trees or where ever, every morning and we get thick, cold fog here. I run out in it to check my birds to make sure they're ok and these birds are livin life trapsing the neighborhood. They stand out in the rain, they don't care if it's 30 degrees and they'll try to dust in a freezing gutter. They were bred to be able to tolerate heat and cold. They are not fru fru birds. They are just amazing.

You're in Southern Cal. I know there are lots of people who fight there and I also know there are some really great breeders there. I hope this isn't one of those top breeders. It would be a shame to lose those kinds of lines. I know Gamers up here. I don't know any details of where they go or what they do. What I do know, is if you have a problem with your birds they are the first to help. They know so much about them and how to care for them, feed them top foods, vitamins, you name it. They actually do love the birds. Well most do. Then you get the ones who run out to buy one bird and then go looking for another bird next weekend. The ones who have a bunch of healthy birds that are properly housed for the breed who never run out and buy a single bird and the go looking for another. They pay extremely high prices and know everything there is to know about their line and they probably can compete the most often with anyone who has raised any type of chicken for maybe decades. Many of them raise them their whole lives and some have been doing it for generations. One of my neighbors leases out his roosters. One of them makes him $500 every few days, by being bred, not fought. Some he gets even more for.

So

Last year I saw a neighbor from down the street who I knew had Games. Lots of them. Never saw a hen, just roosters. I figured he was fighting them, but like someone said unless they are caught fighting them, the most they can do is simple go in and kill every single one of the birds. That's not saving a life, that's ending it. I never saw any indication this man was fighting, I just know my area and know it happens. Well guess what? I went to a huge poultry show. Coming home I passed the guys house and didn't think anyting of him. Just kept thinking I had hatching eggs to set. Next day I passed his house again. There was a trailor full of roosters. Along with winning trophies from the show I had been to the day before. And to be shown, those birds need to be dubbed. You can't show one in full comb. It's the way the birds history is shown and kept. And when they manage to get hold of eachother through the cages and fight, those combs get shredded.

I'm not saying this guy is anything like what I dealt with with dog fighting, but I will tell you, I was sent off in areas where no one could recognize me. There's so much money envolved that someone could get hurt or worse by getting too envolved. It's dangerous. I don't care who tells you to wait and turn him in, but you were there. Process of elemination. OH and his cop friend saw you? Did I read that right? So if they are being fought they already know. If this cop friend is someone who knows them well, they aren't going to be fighting those birds in the street and if he gets wind of it (not saying a cop can't be dirty, so there's another reason to watch your back) you'd have to think he may be able to do his job if he knows there is going to be fighting somewhere. He already knows he'd be responsible for killing all those innocent birds by just assuming they may one day be fought. He knows they're there, he knows they are properly cage for their safety and he knows that there's no law in owning or raising them. That might be your first clue right there. Oh and the owner carries a gun? Most likely he's had birds stolen. If he is someone who fights them and he does make the big money some of them make, he has a little too much information on you already. Son, schools, college??? This isn't a TV show and you're detective skills just put you in a very bad place. Trust me, your age isn't going to make a difference and then they don't always do anything to you personally, but you may have someone close that they could find. And no one tell me I'm wrong, cause I know I'm not. I've been to the funerals. But this was the big leages too.

Anyone can stick their nose is where it doesn't belong. You purposely searched for then and you were seen snooping. They were waiting for you. If they had something to hide you wouldn't have been invited to see those birds. But if something happens and they are taken and killed to are the one who went looking and snooping, so that's just putting 2 and 2 togther to get 44. He seeks damages and how are you going to pay the price of what are obviously some very expensive birds?

BTW I was told by someone I know is envolved, to keep my Games out of view. Not because someone would think I was fighting them, but so that I don't have any more stolen birds. I've had enough of my other types of chickens stolen and when he saw the few Games I have left he said to keep them under cover so they won't be stolen to fight. So even he doesn't want my birds hurt.

 

[spiritdance]

Quote:
So then the authorities have already been made aware of the chickens and found no cause to intervene. Problem solved. Just let the man and his birds alone.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
So then the authorities have already been made aware of the chickens and found no cause to intervene. Problem solved. Just let the man and his birds alone.

I agree. You have no reason to believe they are being fought, and they have already been reported. Owning game birds is not fighting them.

 

[7L Farm]

Wow!!! I wouldn't touch that with a ten foot pole.

 

[Mahonri]

I haven't read any of the responses above so forgive me if I'm repeating.

Many folks raise roos for SHOW.

AND

"Curiosity killed the cat."

If I saw someone looking over my fence, I wouldn't wait, I would call police first.

also, I believe the subject line for the thread violates at least one BYC rule.

Not something that is discussed here.

nuff said.