APOPKA, Fla. – Police found more than 200 roosters that were being prepared to be sold for cockfighting at a property in Apopka, according to a news release.
Authorities went to the property Wednesday after a person called saying he or she was concerned that cockfighting could be taking place at the property.
Police said the birds had trimmed combs and feathers and had been placed in separate cages.
The property owners told police that they were raising the birds to be sent to locations outside of Florida for cockfighting purposes.
"Unfortunately, offenders believe that the act of preparing or training an animal to fight is not a crime," Apopka Police Chief Michael McKinley said. "The Apopka Police Department takes this offense, in addition to the actual offense of fighting the animals, seriously and will continue to investigate any allegations of abuse."
Edy Domingo Dejesus Ramos and Jose Antonio Perez-Sanchez were arrested Thursday and both charged with possessing animals to use in a fight or as bait.