By Sara McDonald

The Daily News             

Published September 16, 2007

SAN LEON — The crowing cackle of at least 125 roosters caged on a rural lot reaches the ears just before the smell hits the nostrils. The putrid stench of the birds’ urine and droppings spreads through the hot, damp air, forcing neighbors inside. 

On the overgrown lot, 75 birds confined to small, circular cages with hatch roofs are easily visible from neighboring properties. 

Young roosters, not yet old enough for their own confinement but able to fly, roost on the land and neighboring properties, crowing at dogs and people. 

Unruly weeds camouflage at least 40 of the cages, barely visible through the brush. Then there is a faint chipper from a wooden building that houses the smallest chickens. 

There’s not a hen on the property. 

And that, animal cruelty experts say, is enough to support the neighbors’ suspicions. 

John Goodwin, the manager of animal fighting issues for the Humane Society of the United States, said the biggest indication that roosters are being bred to fight is that they’re individually contained. 

“It’s more of what the setup is than anything else,” he said. “In South Texas, 125 roosters on a farm with no hens, no other animals. Come on. It’s pretty obvious.” 

A Texas Loophole 

Attempts to get an explanation from the property owner were unsuccessful. 

The owner didn’t return repeated telephone calls to his residence and a man who is believed to rent the property from him has a disconnected phone line. 

He wasn’t home either of the two times The Daily News stopped by his Texas City apartment and he didn’t respond to notes asking for a phone call left on his door. 

But even if the men admitted to breeding the birds to fight, it might not be enough for authorities to act. 

That’s because in Texas, unlike some other states, it’s legal to possess roosters with the intent to fight them. So although Texas law makes cockfighting a felony, law enforcement officials have to catch people in the act. 

“It’s a lot harder in Texas because you have to establish the intent to fight them,” Goodwin said. “But the breeding is very specific. The level of aggression in these kinds of roosters is such an enhanced level. They’re bred to keep fighting even when they’re really hurt.” 

In breeding areas, which resemble the one in San Leon, people often have sparring matches to see which animals to bring to the big matches, Goodwin said. 

At those fights, spectators often take bets on which bird will survive, Goodwin said. The roosters have weapons — either blades or curved ice picks — strapped to the spurs that jut from the back of their feet. When the birds fight, the blades slash the flesh until one bleeds to death. 

“They’re shredded to ribbons when this is done,” he said. 

Passing The Buck 

Frank and Cathy Tarver, who live next to the property, have been complaining about the roosters for almost a year. Cathy Tarver said she told a Galveston County sheriff’s deputy who came out to the home she’d seen men fighting the animals at least once, with children nearby watching. 

Until Thursday, officials said there wasn’t evidence to demand an investigation into what goes on at the property. 

Additionally, who would investigate isn’t clear. Galveston County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Maj. Ray Tuttoilmondo said animal control, a subsidiary of the county health department, has more expertise to investigate animal cruelty claims. 

But health department spokesman Kurt Koopmann said the animal control division is only contracted to investigate claims against dogs and cats. They’re not equipped to handle any other type of animals, he said. 

Koopmann said all the health department can do is issue citations for the site being a public nuisance, which he said officers have done twice — once for the excessive noise and another time for the smell. 

On Friday, that changed. Koopmann told The Daily News after inquiries into the San Leon property, both by the newspaper and another complainant, animal control officers would be sent out to look for evidence of fighting. 

Tuttoilmondo also said officers would investigate the case if people reported fighting. 

“If there are folks seeing this type of activity going on, we want to know,” he said. 

Continued Complaints 

But the Tarvers and another neighbor, Tammy Ellison, said they’ve tried to raise awareness about the situation. They put together a petition with signatures from neighbors, only to be told it wouldn’t do any good, they said. 

Frank Tarver said he’s called sheriff’s office dispatchers about the roosters in his trees and yard, only to be laughed at. 

So they’ve suffered with the smell and noise, hoping that if they keep complaining, it will get them somewhere. 

“You can’t sit out here and enjoy your backyard,” Cathy Tarver said. “I can’t have a garden. We can’t do anything. It’s driving me crazy.”

For More Information Contact:
Kurt Koopmann
Public Information Officer
Galveston County Health District
409-938-2211 or 409-392-0007
kkoopman@gchd.org