It’s a familiar and all-to-disturbing sight for Annette Fisher.
Days after police rescued nearly 50 roosters from a cockfighting ring in Cleveland, Annette stepped up to help.
“A lot of the roosters were extremely thin. Some were emaciated,” she said. “They definitely needed to put some groceries on them. Several of them were aggressive, but quite a few of them were very sweet, very easy to handle.”
Many of the roosters were missing their talons, waddles or combs. Some of their feathers had been shaven off.
Annette and her team of volunteers, including Cindy Dilley, collected 37 roosters to take to the animal farm rescue, Happy Trails, in Ravenna.
“They said they shaved them because when they would grab each other, they bleed more, so it makes it more of a blood sport and I guess people like it more like that,” Dilley said. “It’s scary that somebody thinks that’s an OK thing to do. It’s almost scarier that somebody would go watch that.”
The change is drastic contrast from what happened on Saturday, when Cleveland Police removed the birds from an Ohio City home.
“I was afraid we’d have to euthanize more of them,” said animal control officer John Baird. ”It’s phenomenal, what they’re going to do. They’re going to examine each animal. They’re going to provide us with reports, if needed, for each every animal. We’ll certainly use them when we go to court.
A man was arrested on several counts of animal abuse. He’s due in court on Wednesday. Nearly 40 other men were also on site, but none of them have been charged in the case.
Annette said her team will work close with Cleveland Police to get justice for the animals. Eight birds were euthanized and there may be more. She plans to take eight more birds to a veterinarian for treatment.
“A couple of them I don’t think are probably going to make it,” she said. “One has really bad legs and he seems very crippled, and I don’t think there’s anything they’re going to be able to do for him. Two of them have really bad eye injuries. They might be able to treat the eye injuries, but I don’t think they’re going to be able to regain their sight.”
Until that day in court, Annette said her team is anxious to rehabilitate the roosters and find them safe homes. Cindy couldn’t agree more.
“They’re stressed but they’re doing pretty well. We’re going to get everybody settled in,” Cindy said. “Everybody will calm down and they’ll have a nice night. In a weird way, it all works together. Now they’re a part of the Happy Trails family.”
For more information on Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary, go to www.Happytrailsfarm.org