UPDATE: Nearly 600 roosters are in cages at The Animal Foundation. They were seized by police during a raid on what they believe was a cockfighting training ground outside a home in the northeast part of the valley.
Two men are in custody and animal rights activists are furious because all of those birds will have to be euthanized.
Michelle Quigley, the director of The Animal Foundation, says the situation is overwhelming. She says it’s hard accepting the fact that there’s no way to save the birds.
"My past experience and personal experience with game foul and fighting birds is they are not suitable to re-home,” Quigley told 13 Action News. “They've endured some really horrible conditions and suffering and we just want to provide them the best care while they are here.”
Police arrested the two suspects Wednesday at the house they were allegedly using to train these roosters. Police say this is the largest bust of its kind in Nevada’s history.
"We're not set up for this sort of housing,” said Quigley. “We've had to use dog crates, kitten kennels, dog bowls. It's not ideal but we have to use the best of what we've got."
Police say the two suspects, Silvester Gayton and Javier Salgado are brothers who lived at the home together.
While police can't confirm that the home was used for the actual fighting, they say there is evidence that proves it was at least a training ground.
Both suspects face felony charges that could put them behind bars for up to four years. Animal activist Gina Greisen says she hopes they learn their lesson.
"It's a tragedy,” said Greisen. “Hundreds and hundreds of roosters were taken through no fault of their own and now are going to die because of the actions of humans."
Staff members at The Animal Foundation say it will be a sad goodbye.
ORIGINAL STORY:
At least 600 roosters were recovered in a cockfighting operation Wednesday afternoon.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Animal Cruelty Detail served a search warrant at two separate residences in the 4700 block of Stanley Avenue, near Owens Avenue and Nellis Boulevard.
Two suspects were taken into custody.
Neighbors told 13 Action News they knew there were a lot of birds on the property but had no idea what they were used for.
"That surprised me," Ricardo Castellanos said. "I knew there were a lot of chickens, but I didn't know they were doing the cockfighting."
It is unknown the fate of the roosters seized from the property.
A bill passed during the last Legislative session made cockfighting a felony. State Sen. Mark Manendo sponsored the bill the increased the penalty.
"I think you are going to see more and more of these types of busts," he said.
