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3,500 Birds Have to Be Euthanized Following Massive Southern California Cockfighting Bust, Officials Say
Operation Crowing Rooster recovered 3,500 birds and led to 56 arrests, including 10 felony charges, after serving 26 search warrants targeting rural animal cruelty and related crimes.
- San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department conducted Operation Crowing Rooster from June 14 to August 1, 2025, targeting illegal cockfighting across the county.
- The operation followed reports of elaborate cockfighting events held at residences with spectators paying fees, involving extensive illegal activities including gambling and drug trafficking.
- Authorities served 26 search warrants, arrested 56 people aged 16 to 71 on felony and misdemeanor charges including animal cruelty, and seized roughly 3,500 birds, firearms, and narcotics.
- Authorities recovered over $259,000 in cash, a dozen guns—three of which were ghost guns—as well as approximately one pound of cocaine, slightly less methamphetamine by weight, and six grams of fentanyl valued at about $11,000.
- In compliance with state regulations and animal welfare standards, officials humanely euthanized all confiscated birds to minimize their distress and protect public safety amid concerns that cockfighting is connected to various criminal activities.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Hastings Tribune
3,500 birds have to be euthanized following massive Southern California cockfighting bust, officials say
LOS ANGELES — Authorities arrested 56 people and seized 3,500 birds, as well as firearms and drug paraphernalia, during a multiweek cockfighting investigation in San Bernardino County, officials said.
3,500 birds have to be euthanized following massive SoCal cockfighting bust, officials say
Authorities arrested 56 people and seized 3,500 birds, as well as firearms and drug paraphernalia, during a multi-week cockfighting investigation in San Bernardino County, officials said.
East Bay Times
The Mercury news3,500 cockfighting birds seized in Southern California operation ‘Crowing Rooster’
56 people were arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty and other offenses.
Whittier Daily News
San Gabriel Valley Tribune3,500 cockfighting birds seized in operation ‘Crowing Rooster’ in San Bernardino County
Roughly 3,500 cockfighting birds were recovered by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department during a six-week-long summer investigation called operation “Crowing Rooster.” Fifty-six people, including one minor, were arrested on suspicion of felony and misdemeanor offenses including animal cruelty when investigators served 26 search warrants throughout San Bernardino County between June 14 and August 1, according to a news release. All the …
County Sheriff's "Operation Crowing Rooster" focuses on rural crime; Landers man arrested
A special operation by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department focusing on rural crimes led to the arrest of one man in Landers. Called “Operation Crowing Rooster,” the Sheriff’s Department’s rural crime operation ran from June 14 through August 1 and led to 26 search warrants and a total of 56 arrests. The Sheriff’s Department defined the operation as focusing on crimes in rural nature to include but not limited to animal cruelty, the t…
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