COMPTON : 62 Roosters, Equipment for Animal Fighting Seized
Sixty-two roosters and a wide assortment of cockfighting paraphernalia have been seized from a semirural neighborhood in Compton where police believe birds are being trained to fight.
Two homes on the 600 block of Bennett Avenue and at least one other house nearby are suspected of being used to train the roosters for illegal cockfights, said Police Chief Hourie Taylor. In addition to the 62 roosters, police and county animal control officers seized steroids, spurs, miniature boxing gloves and hypodermic needles during a Thursday raid of one Bennett Street house.
The birds, which can be worth more than $1,000 apiece, were taken to an undisclosed location by animal control officers, who said the value of the roosters made them a target for thieves. Police say they intend to ask prosecutors to file charges against the owners of raising fighting animals, a misdemeanor.
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