Cockfights Cracked in Texas: 21 Arrests, 65 Roosters Saved

In a bizarre news story that most Telugus would relate to, the Hunt County Sheriffs in East Texas, USA, arrested 21 cockfighters and rescued 65 live roosters in an active cockfighting bust on Sunday afternoon in Celeste, Texas. The cops also found 10 roosters died of injuries from sharp blades called gaffs during the operation. The chickens were taken for treatment at the SPCA of Texas in Dallas.

According to the Hunt County Sheriffs, the cops received a tip about a crowd of about a hundred people indulging in cockfighting, a serious offense that may attract a jail term and penalty as per local laws. While most of the cockfighters fled the scene upon cops’ arrival, 21 were arrested and 65 live chickens were rescued during the mission. The crackdown was carried out jointly by the Criminal Investigations Division and the SPCA of Texas.

As per the sheriff’s update, 12 of the rescued live chickens had to be euthanized by a veterinarian because of their severe injuries. In Texas, cockfighting has been illegal in as many as 50 states in the USA, including Texas, for decades. However, it is still rampant in several rural and urban areas. Those caught cockfighting could be imprisoned for up to 2 years along with a fine of up to $10,000.