MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — Police have seized 99 chickens that allegedly were being raised for cockfights.
Animal control officers found the birds at two Mountlake Terrace homes Thursday night, Police Chief Scott Smith said.
"It became clear what we had was an enterprise set up to raise the birds for cockfighting," Smith said.
The officers were checking on a report of dogs barking when they heard roosters crowing and discovered 46 in the backyard of a house in the 24100 block of 57th Place W.
That led them to a second residence in the 4600 block of 241st Street SW, where they found 53 more birds.
Investigators also found drugs for injecting into the birds to make them more aggressive, small boxing gloves used on the feet of the chickens and other evidence that the birds’ owners were training them to fight, Smith said.
Some birds had a small nub on the back of their legs cut off so a small razor blade could be attached for fights, he said.
"It was a pretty elaborate setup," Smith said, adding that it’s unusual to find these types of operations in urban areas.
Police believe the homes were used only for raising the birds, and no fights were staged there.
The birds were being kept in small cages and did not appear to have any food or water, Smith said.
"It was clear the conditions they were living in were very inhumane," Smith said.
At least 50 of the roosters have been euthanized, he said.
"With the condition they were in, the most humane thing to do was euthanize them," Smith said.
Three roosters were kept as evidence and are being cared for by the Everett Animal Shelter.
The hens, which are not used for fighting, are being cared for by a Sultan animal rescue group.
No one has been arrested, Smith said. The case will be referred to the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office.
Reporter Katherine Schiffner: 425-339-3436 or schiffner@heraldnet.com.
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