State police said the scene was too awful for words at a cockfighting ring they found in Valencia County's Highland Meadows.

Investigators found roosters dead and thrown in the trash. Some roosters were alive, but they were maimed and suffering.

Police are still on the hunt for the owner of the building.

"There's injured birds that are maimed, you know, barely breathing," Senior Patrolman with New Mexico State Police Robert Carrejo said.

A neighbor's tip led police to the building, where police found a scene they described as "horrible."

"What we've seen here is absolutely a typical cock fight," Heather Ferguson with the Attorney General's Animal Task Force said. "These birds have blades strapped to their heels, then put into the pit so they can slash each other to ribbons."

In the building, police found trash bags and garbage cans filled with dead roosters. Police said that there's evidence 50 to 100 birds were housed in the building.  Four roosters will still alive when police arrived, but they had to be put down.

Those responsible for the situation scattered when police rolled up.

"We found evidence around the perimeter of this enclosure of them having lookouts. So obviously they saw our arrival, our police cars coming into the area," Carrejo said.

Investigators said that since cockfighting was made illegal in 2007, the fight against it has netted convictions.

"We've already had convictions down in Southern New Mexico, we have had grand jury indictments for felony level penalties here in Bernalillo Counties and we anticipate more," Ferguson said.

Police hope this bust sends a message to cock fighters across the state.  "We're not going to tolerate that anymore," Carrejo said.  Investigators said a fight can net anywhere from $10,000 - $15,000.

Police are still searching for the owner of the building, but they said they doubt they'll be back anytime soon.

Operating a cockfighting ring is a serious offense.  Anyone charged in the case will face at least one felony charge for extreme cruelty to animals, and a misdemeanor charge for cockfighting.

Those involved will also face gambling charges.

Reference:

KRQE