Case Report

An East Palo Alto man was arrested Feb 2 on charges that he was breeding roosters for cockfighting. Manuel Vargas allegedly told animal control officers that he was breeding the fighting fowl for events in the Fresno area, said Sgt. Steve Frias of the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA.

He was charged with two counts of possession of a game fowl with intent of fighting, Frias said. As evidence, authorities confiscated the blades affixed to the birds, the scales used to weigh them and the antibiotics used to treat their wounds.

Vargas, who has a prior conviction on the same charge, was booked in the county jail in Redwood City. Two roosters were taken into custody at the humane society.

Frias said cockfighting breeders in San Mateo County have more frequently been found along the coast. But he said 10 birds were taken last month from another East Palo Alto residence.

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