Over 450 game fowl used in cockfighting seized

More than 450 game fowl believed to be used in illegal cockfighting were seized on Tuesday, authorities said.

Two search warrants were served at 9 a.m. to the 8800 block of Pillsbury Avenue in Lancaster, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Sheriff’s Lt. John Lecrivain said the number of game fowl, which he described as “99 percent fighting roosters,” numbered more than 450 on Wednesday.

The county Department of Animal Care and Control with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles responded to the location to examine and care for the animals, authorities said.

Several people were detained, but no arrests were made and the investigation is ongoing, the sheriff’s department said.

On May 15, an illegal cockfighting bust in unincorporated Val Verde was the largest ever in the U.S., authorities said.

That bust, in the 29000 block of Jackson Street, resulted in more than 7,000 roosters being found which included dead birds and a variety of weapons believed to be used in cockfighting contests.

Lecrivain said the two busts were not connected and the investigation into the Val Verde case is ongoing.

“The only thing that makes them similar is they’re remote properties,” Lecrivain noted.

Anyone with information about this case or other similar ones may call the Community Partnerships Bureau at 323981-5300 or anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.