135 roosters and hens found at two South Side properties may be part of cockfighting ring, ACS says
A tip from a concerned citizen led officials to the discovery of 135 roosters and hens at two South Side properties that are likely a part of a cockfighting ring, according to San Antonio Animal Care Services.
On Tuesday, San Antonio police executed search warrants at both homes located in the 300 block of W. Ansley Boulevard. The homes are located next door to each other and are connected by a pathway.
The properties are suspected of housing the birds, which will then be used in fights elsewhere, said Shannon Sims, an assistant director with ACS. He said it is a very minute possibility that the birds were being used for anything other than fighting.
The roosters could be heard as ACS investigators carried each individual bird out in white cardboard carriers. The process is expected to take several hours because each bird needs to be examined by a veterinarian.
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Sims said most of the roosters and hens are in good condition, which is not uncommon with fighting roosters.
“They often will take good care of these birds because they make lots of money, so they want to make sure their champions are well kept,” Sims said.
While investigators examine the birds, they are also looking for evidence of cockfighting such as knives, injection material and boxing gloves. Another indication of fighting is the removal of a roosters’ combs.
At both homes, the roosters were separated in individual cages rather than kept together in a large coop. Sims said it is another indication that the roosters were trained to kill and needed to be kept away from each other.
Sims said they will usually have a few small busts a year, but large scale operations like these have been declining recently.
According to Sims, roosters are housed in San Antonio before taken to rural areas for fights. Sims said the fights often attract nefarious activities like prostitution and weapons and drug dealings.
ACS spokeswoman Lisa Norwood said the South Side properties had “no legal means for those numbers” of roosters and hens.
“Generally speaking, there is no reason to have this many roosters, it’s definitely not for fresh eggs,” she said.
San Antonio police and ACS did not say if arrests were made in connection with the birds found at the homes.
Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | [email protected] | @TaylorPettaway
Editor’s Note: The story was updated to show the number roosters and hens recovered was 135 after San Antonio Animal Care Services’ final count.
