A husband and wife have been accused of organizing a cockfighting operation in Otay Mesa after county workers found and seized 292 birds.
San Diego County Animal Control officers found the hundreds of birds last month at Otay Auto Transport, where officials believe Martin and Ana Espinoza had a cockfighting operation.
The Espinozas were cited for eight counts of possession of game fowl with the intent to fight the birds. If convicted, they could face up to a year in jail and a $10,000 fine.
Officials said the Espinozas admitted to bringing in 20 birds from Perris for cockfighting in Mexico, but it wasn’t clear who owned the rest of the birds.
The roosters, hens and chicks were seized and placed in shelters in Bonita and Carlsbad.
Bred to be aggressive, they have attacked shelter staff and are not adoptable, officials said. Animal Services have requested permission from the court to euthanize them. A hearing on the matter is set for June 26.
Animal Control workers are still looking for the other owners.
