Thread: AZ:Three people arrested in two separate cockfighting busts

Published: 09.08.2008
Three people arrested in two separate cockfighting busts
RYN GARGULINSKI
Tucson Citizen
Three people were arrested and more than 100 roosters and hens turned over to authorities in two separate cockfighting busts in the past two weeks, a Pima County Sheriff's Department spokesman said Monday.
The first was Aug. 29, when deputies went to a home in the 28000 block of South Royal Drive for an unrelated matter, Deputy Jeffrey Donovan said in a news release.
While on the property, deputies noticed roosters that had been altered for cockfighting. They obtained a search warrant and came up with a total of 46 birds, 29 roosters and 17 hens, which were signed over to Pima Animal Care Center.
Jesus Contreras, 43, was arrested on charges of cockfighting and possession of drug paraphernalia, Donovan said.
The second bust was Friday, when deputies saw numerous rooster cages and roosters on a property near the 3100 block of East El Toro Drive.
Property owners Manuel Estrada, 61, and his wife Maria Estrada, 60, invited the deputies on the property, where they found items consistent with cockfighting, Donovan said.
A search warrant led to the removal of 75 birds, 49 roosters and 26 hens, and the arrest of the Estradas on charges of cockfighting. The birds were signed over to Pima Animal Care Center, Donovan said.
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/brea ... /96130.php

In Florida, as a rental agent I handled a lot of cottages where there were non-English speakers, but they were always inviting me in to pay me, and always in cash. One day at a very well kept cottage, I was invited in and was met not only by the family but a young rooster that walked up to check me out in the living room. I named the young chicken Spike, and although my rent-collecting duties were over before the next month's rent was due as the owner came back, I still wonder if Spike had a decent life not in the cockfighting ring.
What may be culturally acceptable in the home country where these folks came from is against the law in many cases in this country,