Large-scale cockfighting operation busted in Ontario

ONTARIO, Calif. (KABC) -- Ontario Police, Inland Valley Humane Society and SPCA officers raided a cockfighting operation in Ontario Sunday. The operation is possibly one of the largest ever found in the Inland Valley, according to authorities.

The raid was conducted at a property on the 13000 block Cucamonga Avenue in Ontario. Authorities found about 1,000 gamecocks on the property. Numerous cockfighting paraphernalia was found, including razors for attaching to rooster legs, training equipment and wager cards.

Two people were arrested on charges of cockfighting and animal cruelty. Multiple citations were distributed to eight people at the location.

Many of the participants were high-level employees of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, according to authorities.

Tuesday, Humane Society officers began the task of counting the estimated 3,500 roosters and hens scattered across the 15-acre property.

"It is the most staggering property I have ever been to during my history with the organization, and to see the conditions that these animals have been put in," said James Edward, Inland Valley Humane Society.

This is not the first time the Humane Society has been to the property: four years ago they shut down a smaller cockfighting ring operation there.

The roosters and hens will be removed and most likely will be euthanized. Humane Society officers said they could not salvage the birds due to the steroids injected into the animals to make them aggressive.

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