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Sheriff: 271 chickens removed from Arizona property after alleged 'rooster fighting'

A 41-year-old is facing criminal charges of using animals for the purpose of rooster fighting.

PIMA COUNTY, Ariz. — Over 250 hens and roosters were recently seized from a property in southern Arizona after sheriff's deputies executed a search warrant.

The Pima County Sheriff's Department said 41-year-old Jose Balderrama has been arrested and is facing 10 counts of owning animals for the purpose of rooster fighting.

VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Alguacil: Retiran 271 pollos de una propiedad de Arizona por presunta ‘pelea de gallos’

On Nov. 4, deputies were dispatched to a property south of Tucson for reports of a possible theft and allegedly observed signs of illegal rooster fighting and breeding.

A total of 271 chickens and four dogs were removed from the property and handed over to an animal shelter. The investigation is ongoing.

RELATED: A Valley preschool had bunnies to enrich their curriculum. They were killed overnight, the school director says.

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