Pleasanton Cockfighting Ring Operators Sought By Investigators

PLEASANTON, CA — The Alameda County Sheriff's Office said it is trying to track down the operators of a cockfighting ring discovered Saturday night in Pleasanton.

Deputies received a report of a party and cockfighting ring in the 10500 block of Dublin Canyon Road around 6:20 p.m., the sheriff's office said in a news release. Fifty to 60 people were reportedly gathered inside an outbuilding on the rural property. Oakland police officers flew over the area in a helicopter and found a large group of people and parked cars.

California Highway Patrol — Dublin, Dublin police and the sheriff's office arrived to the scene. About 20 people scattered into the surrounding wooded area after officers arrived.

Officers searched the area and found 600 cocks, hens, chicks and 200 incubating eggs. Some of the animals were kept in small pens, photos show.

The animals were seized by the sheriff's office and will be treated for illness or injury.

Officers found cockfighting paraphernalia, including blades for attaching to birds' legs and needles and vials used to inject them, the sheriff's office said.

Deputies detained many people who admitted to coming to the area for cockfighting, but the sheriff's office is still looking for the organizers.

Detectives have launched an investigation into animal cruelty and cockfighting. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's office at 510-667-3600.