Santa Barbara is one of at least 22 California counties that limit rooster numbers to enable law enforcement to shut down cockfighting operations without having to raid a cockfight in progress and put officers at risk from a mob of armed cockfighters.
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif.— Animal Wellness Action today applauded Santa Barbara County Animal Services officers for executing search warrants and shutting down a suspected cockfighting operation in the Lompoc area, seizing dozens of birds and uncovering equipment commonly used in illegal rooster fights.
According to county officials, Santa Barbara County Animal Control officers, working with Santa Barbara County sheriff’s detectives and rural crimes deputies, served two search warrants this week as part of an investigation into suspected animal abuse and illegal cockfighting activity. Authorities seized 58 birds and discovered items commonly associated with cockfighting, including sharp blades known as slashers or navajas that are attached to roosters’ legs during fights.
Investigators also observed multiple birds bearing physical signs consistent with cockfighting. Many had been dubbed, meaning their combs and wattles were cut off to reduce bleeding during fights, and several birds had trimmed natural spurs that are often altered so metal blades can be attached during staged fights. Officials also reported that some birds were kept in unsanitary and overcrowded conditions.
“This enforcement action reveals the unmistakable markers of a cockfighting enterprise,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. “When investigators find birds that have been dubbed, their spurs cut for blade attachments, and caches of slashers used in fights, it’s clear that these animals were being prepared for violent spectacles.”
The enforcement action highlights the value of the rooster-limitation ordinance adopted by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors in January 2024 that restricts the number of roosters allowed on most properties and helps authorities intervene when large-scale breeding operations are used as fronts for cockfighting.
“Cockfighters often claim they are raising birds for meat production, egg laying, or exhibition purposes, but in many cases those claims are simply a pretense,” Pacelle added. “But that’s a ruse, and the ordinance approved by the Board of Supervisors gives local authorities an important tool to shut down these cockfighting complexes and avoid the risk of raiding a derby in progress.”
Animal Wellness Action supported the measure championed by Supervisor Joan Hartmann and approved in a 4-1 vote by the Board of Supervisors. Supervisors Joan Hartmann, Laura Capps, Das Williams, and Chairman Steve Lavagnino voted in favor of the measure.
Since the ordinance took effect, county officials report seizing more than 300 birds connected to suspected cockfighting operations, underscoring the scale of the problem and the importance of proactive enforcement.
“Cockfighting is not only a barbaric form of animal cruelty but is frequently tied to illegal gambling, trafficking of fighting birds, and other criminal activity,” said Pacelle. “We commend Santa Barbara County Animal Services, the Sheriff’s Office, and all involved investigators for their diligence, and we thank the Board of Supervisors for taking action to give law enforcement the tools they need to stop these operations.”
The investigation remains ongoing. Seized birds are currently being housed at the county’s animal shelter, according to local authorities.