Almost 100 roosters adopted after being rescued from cockfighting ring, 18 still need homes

Almost 100 roosters have found new homes after they were rescued from a cockfighting ring in Marlboro County a little over a week ago which led to 27 suspects involved with the illegal sport facing charges.

According to the Carolina Waterfowl Rescue, who took primary care of the birds, there are 18 roosters who are currently being taken care of a foster homes, but will need to find permanent homes as soon as possible. Initially if the birds were not adopted by April 10, the organization would have been forced to euthanize the birds.

“We haven't gotten this far alone,” CWR Director Jennifer Gordon said in a statement. “We have some amazing volunteers who have worked very hard all week – sometimes working through the night without sleeping. We have put thousands of miles on our cars doing home inspections and transporting roosters to their new homes.”

Marlboro County Sheriff Fred Knight said 38-year-old Carson R. Clark and his 21-year-old son Brandon Clark were charged with cockfighting after an investigation revealed they allegedly ran the cockfighting operation out of their home, which was located in the 4000 block of Kollock Road in Wallace, S.C.

Knight said sheriff’s deputies and several other state law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the home on March 4 and located 122 roosters as well as 11 dogs, ten of which were puppies. Law enforcement officers also found marijuana, cocaine, firearms, several thousand dollars in cash for entry fees and instruments commonly used in cockfighting. Five of the roosters eventually died from their injuries – which included broken bones, stab wounds and head trauma – during the rescue.

Sheriff’s deputies also charged 25 other suspects who come from both North Carolina and South Carolina with cockfighting in connection with the operation. Some of the suspects also received drug charges.

Anyone who is interested in adopting a rooster should email adopt@cwrescue.org. Some of the roosters need ongoing medical care and donations are need to cover those costs. Anyone who is interested in donating to the medical care of the roosters can find information online at http://www.cwrescue.org/

This story was originally published April 7, 2015 at 9:33 AM with the headline "Almost 100 roosters adopted after being rescued from cockfighting ring, 18 still need homes."