In a shocking discovery, Albuquerque police raided a cockfighting ring operating in broad daylight behind a mobile home. The June 11th bust resulted in the apprehension of a dozen individuals, including the alleged ringleader.
The raid, captured on body camera footage, was initiated following a tip-off from a concerned citizen. As officers approached the mobile home, the unmistakable sounds of roosters crowing filled the air.
Albuquerque police officers stand near a mobile home where a cockfighting ring was discovered.
A makeshift fighting pit, concealed by a tent and surrounded by cages, was discovered in the backyard. The distressing scene revealed numerous roosters, bred and trained for fighting, confined to cramped cages.
Cockfighting, a barbaric blood sport that pits specially bred roosters against each other, often to the death, is illegal in New Mexico. These roosters are often fitted with sharp blades attached to their legs, inflicting gruesome injuries upon their opponents.
A close-up of a rooster's legs with blades attached.
During the raid, officers uncovered a disturbing collection of cockfighting paraphernalia, including the sharp blades used to inflict damage. One officer, familiar with the cruel practice, pointed out the blades and the method of attaching them to the roosters’ legs.
The investigation revealed a disturbing pattern of organized cruelty. The property owner is suspected of not only orchestrating the cockfights but also engaging in dogfighting, another illegal blood sport.
A shed on the property housed a pit bull exhibiting signs of recent fighting, further solidifying the suspicion of organized animal cruelty.
An Albuquerque police officer holds a rooster removed from a cockfighting ring.
The raid culminated in the seizure of six roosters, one deceased and another severely injured, likely from fighting. Two hens and the injured pit bull were also rescued and taken to the Animal Welfare Office for treatment and care.
The alleged organizer of the cockfighting ring was summoned to court to face charges, while eleven other individuals found on the property were issued citations.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the persistent issue of animal cruelty and the importance of reporting any suspicions to the authorities.
