More than 300 roosters rescued from Las Vegas rooster-fighting ring

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — LVMPD Animal Cruelty detectives and Animal Control rescued more than 300 roosters used for fighting from a neighborhood in northeast Las Vegas on Friday.

Investigators tell News 3 police were at the home to execute a narcotics warrant when the birds were discovered.

Inside the home, police say they found paraphernalia like razor blades and roosters with their combs and spurs removed in preparation for fighting.

"Cockfighting is a violent and cruel sport that entails forcing roosters to fight each other with the sharp blades until one of the roosters dies.," wrote the LVMPD press release. "The LVMPD wants to remind the community that the act of participating, attending, promoting these types of events is illegal."

The home, off 4000 block of Judson, appears to be on the same road where another major ring was busted back in 2018.

Police say one person is in custody on drug-related charges with more charges expected related to animal cruelty.

Sharon Linsenbardt is owner of Barn Buddies Rescue at Las Vegas Farm. One of the roles she takes on is caring for abused, abandoned and neglected animals across the valley.

But she says few are in worse shape than the battered and nearly broken roosters rescued from the ring.

"They are so traumatized they can’t hardly pick their head up from the ground," she said. "They are absolutely bloody from tip to toe.”

There are thousands of thousands of people engaged in this illegal enterprise," said Wayne Pacelle, President of the Animal Wellness Action, a national advocacy group that in part, investigates rooster ring fights across the country and demands stricter laws.

"Nevada I'm sorry to say, probably remains in the top quarter of states for illegal cockfighting," Pacelle said.

A problem Sharon sees first hand.

“I’m just so over it, I’m just so sad that we are having this again," Linsenbardt said.

Her rescue is overwhelmed with roosters and can't take in anymore. Linsenbardt also asks Las Vegas residents to be cautious before hatching chickens. She says many people can't handle a rooster once older, and my unwittingly be supplying rooster fighting ring leaders with more birds.

She hopes it all comes to an end soon.

“I can’t even imagine having joy in watching an animal being hurt, harmed, blood, dead. I just don’t get it," she said.