Report reveals growing number of illegal rooster keeping operations in Monterey County

An investigation by the Monterey County Civil Grand Jury is uncovering a growing number of illegal rooster keeping operations despite an ordinance in effect to prevent that.

The Rooster Keeping Ordinance was passed by the Board of Supervisors in 2014. According to the report, it was designed to “establish a comprehensive approach to the keeping of five or more roosters that balances promotion of agriculture and agriculture education with prevention of rooster keeping operations that are unsanitary, inhumane, environmentally damaging or conducive of illegal cockfighting,”

The Monterey County Civil Grand Jury said the Board of Supervisors had good intentions with the ordinance, but they did not enforce it.

According to the MCCGJ, the agencies tasked with enforcing the rules are “confused” about their roles and haven’t received the proper training. The public also apparently doesn’t know who to turn to when they have concerns.

The MCCGJ recommends that supervisors reevaluate the way the ordinance is implemented.

The MCCGJ also discovered the number of illegal rooster keeping operations continues to grow in Monterey County.

The investigation was brought on by a complaint from a resident who discovered an alleged illegal rooster keeping operation in June of 2018. The resident reported animal abuse and animal cruelty including cockfighting.

The investigation revealed there are reported to be more than a thousand illegal rooster keeping operations in Monterey County.