A husband and wife face charges after County Animal Services seized 292 birds in Otay Mesa.
Animal Control Officers responded to a call of possible cockfighting at Otay Auto Transport last month. When they arrived, they found hundreds of birds in what appeared to be a breeding operation to raise game cocks for fighting.
Martin and Ana Espinoza admitted they had brought in 20 birds from Perris for cockfighting in Mexico, but it’s not known who owned the rest. The Espinozas relinquished their birds and the rest were ‘seized in place’ meaning they couldn’t be removed from the property. The next day, Animal Control Officers noticed some of the birds originally found at the property were missing, so they seized the remaining roosters, hens and chicks and placed them in County shelters in Bonita and Carlsbad.
“As cockfighting is still legal in Mexico, these birds were being smuggled into that country to be fought,” said Animal Services Deputy Director Dan DeSousa. “State law is clear that the possession of a bird with the intent to fight that bird, regardless of where the fight will take place, is illegal and the Department of Animal Services will aggressively investigate such activity and hold any suspects fully accountable under the law.”
The Espinozas were cited for eight counts of possession of a game fowl with the intent to fight the birds. They could face up to a year in jail and/or a $10,000 fine. Animal Services is still seeking the other owners.
Most of the birds were bred to be aggressive, and they have attacked shelter staff caring for them. Animal Services says the birds are not adoptable due to their aggressive nature, so Animal Services is asking for permission to euthanize the birds. A court hearing has been set for June 26.
