The Pima County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) confiscated 280 chickens as part of a suspected illegal cockfighting case. The birds were then turned over to the Pima Animal Care Center (PACC). The impounded animals include 116 hens, 164 roosters, and four dogs.
According to the PACC, the chickens are in good health and they will hold the birds in custody for the duration of the ongoing investigation.
PCSD officials stated that deputies were responding to a theft report on South Camino Casitas, in the Summit neighborhood south of Tucson International Airport. It was there that they observed “evidence suggesting the property was being used for illegal rooster fighting and breeding.”
A search warrant was then obtained by the officers to investigate the property. The deputies “rescued” the animals and arrested Jose Balderrama, 41, on 10 counts of owning roosters for the purposes of cockfighting.
In Arizona, cockfighting is a class 5 felony, punishable by up to 2.5 years in prison.
In a statement, PACC Director Monica Dangler said, “We are grateful to be able to help these animals get out of the situation they were in and find a better future,” PACC Director Monica Dangler said in a news release.
“However, with the addition of these birds on top of the pets that were already in our care, PACC is caring for 978 animals on site today. We urgently need our community’s help in finding homes for dogs and cats to decrease this load.”
The PACC stated that they currently have 570 dogs under their care, and they need them fostered or adopted immediately. All dogs are currently free to adopt from PACC, and anyone who adopts a dog weighing 40 pounds or more will take home a free crate and dog bed.
