|
|
"This is a terrible thing. I don't think anyone ever dreamt this was going on in town," said First Selectman Frank Chiaramonte. "This is not the kind of thing we want in our town. I suspect its part of a whole network. It's surprising to me."
Like gladiator games, cockfighting is a centuries old blood sport. These days, two or more specialty bred birds known as "gamecocks" are placed in an enclosure to fight for the primary purposes of gambling and entertainment.
Mr. Chiaramonte said that while he was campaigning for his run as first selectman he visited the home and saw chicken coops that were covered by tarps.
"Everything was covered. The home was pretty run-down, worse now," said Mr. Chiaramonte. "Something has to happen with these birds and I think they are going to be euthanized."
Harwinton Resident State Trooper Jason Uliano and the State Animal Control Officer responded to the residence to investigate. Upon arrival, observations were made that caused the area to be secured.
The property is owned by Angel and Norma Nazario, who have owned the three-acre site since March of 1995.
"The owners have been living there for 14 years, and neighbors have said there were birds there, but we don't know if there were fighting birds," said Resident State Trooper Ian Nicholson, who was on the scene for about 17 hours.
According to Wayne Kasacek, the assistant director of the state Department of Agriculture, State Police are investigating this apparent raising of birds for the purpose of fighting.
"About 100 were roosters, and the balance were hens and chicks. It appears as though they were breeding birds on that location and prepping birds for fighting," said Mr. Kasacek. "The roosters were shaved and prepped in a way that was consistent with cockfighting."
State Police detectives submitted a search and seizure warrant application to superior court, and the warrant was carried out with the assistance of the State Police Major Crime Squad detectives and agriculture department personnel. Local animal control and fire department personnel also assisted.
"This was a big deal with moving the animals from the coops, and we just needed all the help we could get to physically accomplish this [last] Friday," said Mr. Kasacek. The birds have been moved to an undisclosed location in Litchfield County.
State Police located and seized several pieces of evidence related to the activity concerning cruelty to poultry. In addition, multiple crates and cages housing chickens and roosters were located.
According to Mr. Kasacek, many of the birds were aggressive and will have to be euthanized because they are not suitable for adoption. "It's just the reality of the situation," Mr. Kasacek said. Six of the birds have succumbed to stress.
The fighting birds range in value from $2,000 to $5,000 a piece, Trooper Nicholson said.
Martin Mersereau, director of the Emergency Response Team for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said the birds' natural spurs are sawed off and for the fight, razor sharp blades or "gaffs" (essentially curved ice picks) up to 3.5 inches long are attached. This is used for maximum carnage.
"While male birds will fight naturally, that rarely resorts in injury and is always to establish a pecking order," said Mr. Mersereau, referring to food, mates and territory.
For staged fights, the birds are strapped with the weapons and given steroids or stimulants like caffeine or amphetamines. Money changes hands when one is hopelessly maimed or killed.
Injuries can include broken wings, punctured lungs, pierced eyes and lacerations, and the roosters, which have a central nervous system, experience pain and fright.
Mr. Mersereau said that both the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and American Poultry Association condemn cockfighting as cruel, and have recommended it be considered a felony.
According to a map from The Humane Society of the United States, there are 39 states, including Connecticut, where cockfighting is considered a felony and 11 states where cockfighting is a misdemeanor.
According to Connecticut statutes, any person who knowingly owns, possesses, keeps or trains an animal engaged in an exhibition of fighting for amusement or gain shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both.
John Goodwin, manager of Animal Fighting Issues for The Humane Society of the United States, said that cockfighting is most pervasive in the states where it is treated as a misdemeanor. Currently, Mississippi, Kentucky, Alabama, Tennessee, Ohio and West Virginia are considered the "cockfighting corridor" in the United States.
Mr. Goodwin added that his organization has pursued an aggressive legislative campaign. In 1998, cockfighting was legal in five states, while today it is banned in all 50. "We understand that cockfighting is down 50 percent in the last five years. We are going to continue doing what we have been doing because it's working," said Mr. Goodwin, referring to working with law enforcement and congress to prohibit any animal fighting activity that affects interstate commerce.
The "losing" birds, if they are not already dead, lie in piles or are heaped in 50-gallon drums, writhing and bleeding out on each other, explained Mr. Mersereau.
"It is thought to have originated in Asia, was adopted by Greeks and Romans, later picked up by English nobility, and now it's big in the Philippines, Spain and Asia," said Mr. Mersereau. "This is the United States and it's recognized as the cruel abomination that it is."
Cockfighting Mr. Mersereau said, is often linked with major narcotics operations and gun stashes. Drug-enforcement agents will often be the ones who turn up information on blood sports.
"Whenever these operations are present, weapons and drugs are fast tracked into our communities," said Mr. Mersereau.
No one has been charged yet and the Harwinton investigation is ongoing. Blood tests are being done by state veterinarians with the assistance from the state Department of Agriculture. Should the tests come back positive for diseases, the birds will be euthanized.
