Authorities break up cockfighting operation in Los Osos
A cockfighting operation in Los Osos was broken up by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office Thursday morning.
The SLO County Sheriff’s Rural Crime Unit, assisted by SLO County Animal Control, served multiple search warrants in the 2300 block of Clark Valley Road, 1100 block of 6th Street and 1500 block of 16th Street just before 9 a.m.
The Sheriff’s Office said investigators located 18 roosters in a coop and were identified, photographed and banded for further investigation.
The Sheriff’s Office released several photos of Thursday’s operation with two of four images showing items recovered by law enforcement commonly used in the preparation and care of fighting gamecocks.
A statement by the SLO County Sheriff’s Office read:
“Gamecocks are used illegally for sport and betting purposes by having the roosters fight each other in an enclosed space. The roosters are groomed for fighting by cutting off their natural spurs and replacing them with gaffs, slashers or other sharp instruments designed to inflict mortal wounds on the opposing rooster. These fights often result in the death of one or both gamecocks.”
No one was arrested during Thursday’s raids but authorities say the evidence collected in this investigation will be filed in a report to the SLO County District Attorney’s Office for a criminal complaint.
