Go to main contentsGo to main menu
Sunday, July 27, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Kingsland Chamber

$5K reward offered for tips about cockghting

Local authorities welcome tips about suspected criminal operations in the area, following a recent arrest on a cockfighting charge. On March 16 authorities nabbed an illegal alien suspect from Mexico in northern Burnet County with cockfighting.
In December 2019, a Spicewood resident captured aerial images using his drone unveiling a suspected rooster housing operation, adjacent to Ranches at Double Horn, off County Road 404 in Burnet County. File photo

Local authorities welcome tips about suspected criminal operations in the area, following a recent arrest on a cockfighting charge.

On March 16 authorities nabbed an illegal alien suspect from Mexico in northern Burnet County with cockfighting.

after he was allegedly caught with nine gamecocks and equipment associated (Find related story on Page 1).

As investigators close in on an alleged ring, authorities shared the potential for a tipster to earn $5,000 for information leading to the capture and conviction of perpetrators.

“If (the public) can see these vehicles traveling around pulling up to a convenience store, and you see a truck with cages with nothing but roosters in it, that’s a clue,” Burnet County Sheriff’s Capt. Mike Sorenson said. “That’s something we need to be alerted to.

“If we see the vehicle and it may have committed a traffic violation, then we can check if they have the paraphernalia on hand, and we can arrest them for possession of the cockfighting paraphernalia, seize the chickens and maybe work a lead between them and other to try and stop this where ever the location might be,” he added. “There’s a good possibility there’s more than one location in our county or the adjoining counties.”

Considered a “blood sport,” cockfighting involves domesticated roosters as combatants who fight to the death in hidden venues.

“It’s not against the law to raise the birds. You’ll see them in somebody’s yard,”Sorenson said. “There will be like 15 or 20 of them in their own little pen area with a shelter with a roof on it and water and feed because they’re all separated from each other.”

Cockfighting typically happens in enclosed barns, open arenas or in a rural area obscured by wildland brush.

Authorities get closer to solving these crimes by either receiving tips about fighting events, stopping suspects with birds and cockfighting paraphernalia or finding and receiving evidence of the crime.

Also, public health and safety issues associated with the activity compel local law enforcement to find ways

to halt the activity.

“If these birds get loose, there’s the possibility of (spreading) diseases,” he said.

Area sheriff’s department partner with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) for a reward program, offering thousands of dollars.

HSUS offered the following details to cash in on tips about cockfighting as well as dog fighting operations:

• Call 9-1-1 and report the cruelty and crime. Or visit your local police department and file a report. You can also contact your local animal control agency, and local humane organization or taxpayer funded animal shelter and file a report with them. File a report with the police department;

• Give the agency as many details as you can about the suspected animal fighting operation.

You do not need to give your name to law enforcement to report your information. If you can, provide photos, videos, audio, names of dog or cock fighters and addresses or any other evidence that documents

the dog or cock fighting.

Share with local authorities the exact location of the fighting; and

• Tell the law enforcement agency about the HSUS’s reward program, by contacting the Humane Society of the U.S. animal fighting tip line at 877-TIP-HSUS. The HSUS offers a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in dogfighting or cockfighting.

Tipsters information is kept confidential, the program guideline states.

Also, to qualify for the $5,000 reward, authorities must have an open case and provide a letter verifying the tip. For more information, call 202-452-1100 and request a letter from law enforcement. The letter should be mailed or faxed to: Animal Fighting Reward Program: The Humane Society of the United States, 1255 23rd Street, NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20037. The fax number is 301-721-6414.

For more information, contact BCSO at 512-756-8080.


Share
Rate

Highlander
Hope Ranch
Carter Floors and More
Salem Insurance
Madlyn's
Art of water
Texas Tech University
San Marcos Daily Record
Burnet Bulletin
The Wimberley View
Angus Beef