Brett Kenneth Miller, a Watsonville resident who was convicted in the mid-1980s, decided to represent himself in court after finding himself charged with numerous counts of animal cruelty and possession of firearms.

Acting on an anonymous tip, Lyon County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested 28 people for participating in illegal cockfighting. Numerous roosters and implements were seized as well.

An illegal cockfighting operation in the International District was taken down by the Albuquerque police. The authorities gave out citations, while one man who is believed to be the main organizer has been summoned to court.

Animal Wellness Action and Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) called out the police forces in Kentucky for not cracking down on any of the illegal cockfighting rings in the state. The organizations also named 16 illegal pits currently operating and hosting cockfights regularly.

The Pima Animal Care Center in Arizona is looking for individuals who are willing to adopt one or more of the 20 roosters that were recovered from a cockfighting ring.

Officers seized about 150 animals, including roosters, hens, and chicks, in an alleged cockfighting ring in Tucson, Arizona. Several charges were also made against multiple individuals on the property.

The Oklahoma City Police arrested an Oklahoma couple for allegedly cockfighting. The couple is facing nearly five-dozen counts, including possession of birds, cruelty to animals, and the intent to engage in a cockfight.

Game fowls are an inherent part of cockfighting. After all, a cockfight would not happen without the fighting chickens in the ring. In the United States, cockfighting is illegal, but the business of breeding game fowl is booming.