Animal control officers in north central Parker County say they walked into a gruesome scene late last month, uncovering what appeared to be a cockfighting training ground stocked with injured birds and signs that hundreds more had been conditioned to fight. Investigators reported that some of the birds had been live plucked, their natural spurs cut down so metal blades could be attached, and many showed evidence of injectable steroids and antibiotics. Burned carcasses and a specialized training rig rounded out the disturbing discovery, and one man was arrested as the investigation unfolded.
According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, animal control officers initially seized 28 roosters and 14 hens from the north central Parker County property. The outlet reports that investigators counted more than 200 chicken coops on the land and that a local veterinarian concluded many of the birds had endured cruel and unnecessary treatment.
Authorities returned to the site on April 2 and removed an additional 359 birds, moving them to the Weatherford Parker County Animal Shelter for treatment and evaluation, CBS News Texas reported. The same report notes that Fort Worth-based rescue group Animal Investigations and Response joined the follow-up operation and that the veterinarian determined the live plucking and trimmed spurs were consistent with torture rather than standard poultry care.
Investigators documented a range of training gear and medical supplies on the property, including rooster decoys, wing tags and bottles of injectable anabolic steroids and antibiotics. A burn barrel held dead and partially burned chicken carcasses, and photos described by authorities showed birds with injuries consistent with organized fighting and mutilation, as detailed by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Arrest And Immigration Hold
Ernesto Roacha Ramirez was taken into custody last Tuesday on warrants alleging cockfighting and cruelty to livestock, and Parker County Jail records show he is being held without bond, according to CBS News Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed a detainer on Ramirez while the investigation continues. Sheriff Russ Authier emphasized the office’s stance in a statement to investigators, saying, "Whether it swims, flies, walks, or crawls, we take animal cruelty cases very seriously here in Parker County."
How The Law Treats Cockfighting
Under Texas law, causing a cock to fight or sharing in the proceeds of a cockfight can be charged as a state jail felony. Using property for cockfights or training birds with that intent can be prosecuted as a Class A misdemeanor, according to the Texas Penal Code. The Parker County operation is the latest in a run of North Texas crackdowns on illegal animal fighting, a pattern that has been repeatedly flagged in local coverage of similar raids.
Rescue, Care And Next Steps
The seized birds are being housed and treated at the Weatherford Parker County Animal Shelter, which lists its address and contact information on the city’s website. From here, investigators and prosecutors will sort through the evidence and decide what formal charges to pursue. The long-term outcome for the animals will be determined in court proceedings and civil seizure hearings, where a judge will ultimately decide their fate.
