Nearly 200 abandoned roosters and hens seized from home

(8/08/07 - KTRK/HOCKLEY, TX) (KTRK) -- Animal welfare officials have cleared out a home near Hockley, where nearly 200 roosters and hens, and two dogs, had been abandoned -- left to fend for themselves in squalid conditions.

In law enforcement, every day can hold surprises. Blake Merrow started his day Wednesday enforcing an eviction warrant, but the deputy constable made a discovery he'll never forget.

"This is abnormal. I've never run across this," he said.

What he found was a huge chicken coop, packed with about 175 roosters and hens. They had all been abandoned, along with two dogs.

"The heat is stifling," said Deputy Merrow.

Authorities believe the owner, Jesse Castro, left the animals alone with no food or water. The SPCA got a warrant to seize all of them. Before they arrived, Deputy Merrow gave the animals water.

It's too early to tell what the animals were being used for. Veterinarians will examine every single one. But SPCA workers if the roosters were fighting, they'll have to be destroyed.

"Unfortunately, if roosters have been used in fighting, they're fairly aggressive and not adoptable," explained SPCA's Heidi Brasher. "That is the real tragedy of a situation like this."

Still, Deputy Merrow likely helped stop an even bigger tragedy. Although many of the animals are thin, all of them are alive.

Castro is not the owner of the property. He was leasing from someone else for several years. But he is believed to be the owner of the animals. He may now face several charges of animal cruelty.
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)

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