Law enforcement served search and seizure warrants to the owners of a residential property around 1:00p.m. on November 3rd. At least 100 roosters, hens, and chicks were found living outside and in multiple structures on the property, in makeshift pens and enclosures. Dozens of chickens were housed in a dilapidated barn, in filthy conditions so dusty that responders needed masks to avoid inhaling particles. Horrifically, corpses and body parts of deceased animals were found throughout the property, including in a pit where roosters and hens in various states of decomposition were floating in stagnant water.
The birds were identified by animal fighting experts as Asil chickens, a breed commonly used in cockfighting and selectively bred to be aggressive with other birds. Asil chickens are known for their tall stature, intelligence, and tendency to bond with their caretakers.
Some of the birds were found to have abrasions and feather loss on their heads, chests, and legs. A bloodstained arena was also found on the property. Animal fighting experts on scene characterized the area as a suspected cockfighting pit. More than 20 chairs were situated around the pit and cigarette butts littered the ground, indicating that spectators would gather as roosters were staged to fight each other.
“The lives of chickens bred for cockfighting are heartbreaking, and the only way to spare animals from these horrors is to end this cruel criminal activity,” said Samantha Morton, Indiana state director for the HSUS. “We are honored to work with the Indiana Gaming Commission and all the agencies involved in getting these birds out of this nightmare situation.”
”We will not tolerate animal fighting in our community,” said Wells County Sheriff Scott Holliday. “I appreciate all the agencies involved in this thorough investigation and response.”
Cockfighting is a criminal industry in the U.S. that profits from violent cruelty to animals. It involves pitting two animals to fight often to the death for the purpose of profit, gambling, and purported entertainment. Even birds who aren’t outright killed during the fights suffer terribly. Common injuries include punctured lungs, broken bones, and pierced eyes, yet the birds are forced to continue to fight. Animal fighting is often associated with other criminal activities such as drug trafficking, gang activity, and illegal weapon sales.
The assistance of HSUS was requested by the Indiana Gaming Commission as part of a new two-year contract to aid with animal fighting cases. The HSUS assisted with animal handling, scene documentation, and expertise in identifying cockfighting paraphernalia.
HSUS transported the animals to a safe location where they will be further examined by an avian veterinarian and cared for while the court process determines custody. Due to the high likelihood of the birds’ spreading infectious diseases such as avian flu to humans and commercial flocks, chickens rescued from cockfighting situations are typically not permitted to be adopted out. This, in addition to a lack of adequate placement options for roosters, often sadly leaves agencies little choice but euthanasia.
