250 birds euthanized from cockfighting operation on West Slope
By Carlos Alcalá, Sacramento Bee
El Dorado Animal Services has euthanized 250 birds after uncovering what appeared to be a large, illegal cockfighting operation in Garden Valley, El Dorado County officials said today.
The discovery began Sunday with a traffic stop in Diamond Springs, during which sheriff’s deputies found two roosters with injuries consistent with fighting.
After finding slashing blades in the vehicle, deputies arrested Samuel Cuevas Ayala, 50, of Garden Valley and Rogelio Reyes-Higareda, 39, of Placerville on suspicion of conspiracy and possession of bird fighting equipment and a fighting game cock.