Alleged Cockfighting Operation Busted In AACo.
ODENTON, Md. (WJZ) -- A shocking animal abuse case under investigation in Anne Arundel County. Hundreds of roosters and chickens found on a farm. Investigators believe they were being sold into cockfighting rings across state lines.
Meghan McCorkell has more on the disturbing discovery.
Investigators say a tip led them to the Odenton farm, but what they found there was far worse than expected.
From Sky Eye Chopper 13, you can see police and the the Humane Society of the U.S. investigate what they call a massive cockfighting operation.
"It's a very disturbing situation that we have right now. We continue to investigate this as we speak," said Lt. T.J. Smith, Anne Arundel County Police Department.
Investigators say they got a tip that someone at this Odenton farm was raising roosters and chickens to be sold out of state for cockfighting.
When police served a search warrant Monday, they found hundreds of animals--some of them dead.
"What our detectives have found thus far are evidence of these different types of collars and different types of things that are put on these roosters that are used for cockfighting," said Lt. Smith.
Undercover footage from the Humane Society of the U.S. shows a cockfight in Kentucky back in 2010. The two birds--put in a ring to fight to the death as spectators place bets. Cockfighting is a felony in 40 states.
Investigators tell WJZ they don't believe any of the actual fighting was going on in Maryland, but this isn't the first cockfighting investigation in the county.
Back in 1996, five people were arrested in a fight ring in Severn.
Still, people in Odenton are shocked this happened here.
"Hundreds of chickens being raised to die. That's horrible," one man said.
"It's very disappointing. There's just so many other things that are going on in the world today that they could focus their energies on," one woman said.
Felony charges are expected to be filed in the next few days.
The Anne Arundel County Animal Control will now look for homes for the surviving birds after the investigation is complete.
Police are asking anyone with information about this case to contact them.
