143 Birds Euthanized In Jurupa Valley Cockfighting Ring

JURUPA VALLEY, CA — Roughly 150 birds were euthanized Friday night after Riverside County sheriff deputies responded to an illegal cockfighting event in Jurupa Valley, authorities said.

The event was reported at 10:36 p.m. and brought deputies to the 5900 block of Troth Street. Once deputies arrived, they saw roughly 200 people attending the event and broke up the crowd.

During the investigation, deputies found several dead and severely injured birds, as well as an additional 143 caged birds throughout the property. A resident of the property, who was not identified by authorities, gave the birds to Riverside County Animal Control officers.

The birds were humanely euthanized through Saturday morning, authorities said.

"The birds must be euthanized because Animal Services cannot adopt out such birds, as they are valuable and they would almost always end up back in a cockfighting ring," A Riverside County Animal Control news release said. "They are not suitable as pets."

Riverside County authorities will likely seek felony animal cruelty charges against the man, according to the release.

No further information was immediately available.