AR-News: Cockfight Bust in Oklahoma

[Political Animal]

Dog leads officers to fighting birds
2004-01-30
By Chad Previch
The Oklahoman


A runaway dog Thursday led animal welfare officers to
a southwest Oklahoma City home where they found fowl
bred for cockfighting. 

Arrested on complaints of violating the state
cockfighting ban were Juan Ausencio Zarate, 29, Mary
Esther Zarate, 27, and Fernando Franco Zarate, 38. It
was the first arrest involving game fowl in Oklahoma
City this year. 

After the officers cited the homeowner for the dog,
they obtained a warrant, returned with the police and
made three arrests, said Steve Lira, unit operation
supervisor for Oklahoma City animal welfare. 

The arrests happened about 4 p.m. at 2330 SW 23. 

In all, 77 birds, and equipment used for fighting,
training and breeding were found, Lira said. Most
raids uncover about 15 chickens or roosters, he said. 

"By chance, we saw the dog and chased it through this
backyard and then we found all these chickens," Lira
said. 

The owners admitted the fowl were fighting chickens
and were being raised to fight, Lira said. 

The chickens and roosters were in good condition, but
some had missing toes, Lira said. 

It's unclear how much money had been made off the
gamecocks, but Lira said one of the men arrested had
about $2,000 on him. 

"Now that they know we're out there enforcing it,
they're going to be aware of it and be more guarded,"
Lira said. "So we're going to have to work harder." 

Cockfighting has been banned in Oklahoma since
November 2002, though several counties have challenged
the law.



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