MONTEBELLO -- Law enforcement officials on Saturday broke up what they said was going to be an illegal cockfight, but could not remove more than 150 roosters due to a quarantine that prevents birds from leaving the area.
Nearly 50 people were at the property in the 300 block of Bluff Road, just west of the Rio Hondo River, when Montebello police arrived. There were no arrests.
The home had chicken and rooster coops. People said they were going to have a barbecue, but most fled soon after police arrived. The property owner let officers inspect the area.
The Southeast Area Animal Control Authority and police searched the property and found more than 150 roosters, most with their waddles and claws cut off and their spurs sharpened signs of cockfighting, officials said.
Officers also found what they suspect to be a fighting ring.
However, SEAACA agents found no injured or scarred birds.
"From the reports, they were most definitely preparing for a (cock)fight,' SEAACA Capt. Aaron Reyes said.
Reyes said the area is notorious for cockfighting, which is illegal in California.
Last December, officers raided a neighboring house on Bluff Road and found roosters fighting.
It was discovered the birds were infected with Exotic Newcastle disease, a virus that infects and kills birds, and a quarantine was placed on the neighborhood.
U.S. Department of Agriculture agents were called Saturday and would not allow any birds to be brought in or removed from the area.
Because police did not catch the birds fighting or find injured roosters, the only violation that could be enforced is the breaking of the quarantine, Reyes said.
This could result in a mixture of fines and probation. The investigation is continuing. SEAACA, USDA and California Department of Food and Agriculture will monitor the birds, officials said.
-- Michael Del Muro can be reached at (562) 698-0955, Ext. 3050, or by e-mail at michael.delmuro@sgvn.com .
Derek Pivnick
@PensacolaNewsJournal.com
Fowl are above the law in Santa Rosa County.
Or, more precisely, they aren't included in the law.
Turkeys can gobble, chickens can cluck and roosters can crow all day in Santa Rosa, possibly aggravating neighbors, without fear of getting their owners in trouble.
But those days could be numbered.
The County Commission wants to address where fowl fit into the animal control ordinances. The item likely will be brought up at the commission's March 10 meeting, with a public hearing scheduled for the March 13 meeting.
When the commission enacted a livestock ordinance in January, Tim Dillard of East Milton pointed out the absence of fowl in the county's animal control laws.
"I don't think it (the livestock ordinance) would address chickens," said County Attorney Tom Dannheisser.
That was unwelcome news for Dillard. But he was buoyed when Dannheisser said fowl could be included in the animal nuisance ordinance.
"There are chicken feathers in my yard. It smells like chicken mess. It's horrible," Dillard said.
Dillard and his fiancee, Tammy Ballard, both 34, moved to their East Milton home about a year ago. In that time, they said, they have begun to experience the downside of living next to dozens of chickens.
"We've called the cops three times," Dillard said.
But there was nothing law enforcement, code enforcement or environmental officers could do because the law does not address fowl.
Feathers and smell are one thing.
Then there's the clucking.
"It's every night, every day," Ballard said.
Instead of fitting into the livestock law, chickens could join other domesticated animals in the county's animal nuisance ordinance. Fowl will be allowed in agricultural districts. But in residential areas, owners face fines if their animals - including fowl - disturb the peace, are offensive or are determined to be a health threat.
The law will not prohibit owning the birds, but it will require owners to control the animals and keep them from being a nuisance.
"I felt there was a need to do this," said Commissioner Bob Cole, whose district includes East Milton.
Cole said he visited the site that generated complaints and talked to the neighbors. He was going to stop at the house of the birds' owner, but he did not believe he would be welcome.
Chickens are known to be heard crowing in Pensacola residential areas, including East Hill. But they are required to be kept away from property lines to reduce the nuisance they might create.
The Santa Rosa amendment to the animal nuisance ordinance is being advertised.
In January, the commission enacted the livestock ordinance to prohibit grazing animals in recorded subdivisions, after complaints from residents about neighbors' goats and horses.
Source: http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/news/022303/Local/ST011.shtml