Police raided a North Hills home where cockfighting allegedly took place. Beverly White reports live from North Hills for the NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5, 2014.
A San Fernando Valley home is under investigation after police came face to face with alleged animal abuse and detained 10 people Tuesday.
"They're all being detained for animal cruelty or being participants, witnesses to, cockfighting," LAPD Sgt. Humberto Najera said. "They could be cited and arrested for a misdemeanor. Or potentially if they're repeat offenders, they could be arrested for a felony."
Police discovered caged cockerels, cows, a horse, chickens, goats and puppies at the home located at 8500 N. Haskell Avenue in North Hills around 3 p.m. Zoning in that area allows for farm animals.
Dozens of chickens were taken from the home. Animal regulators left behind the large livestock and gave the owner 72 hours to improve the animals' living conditions.
LAPD confirms there has been one previous call for cockfighting at this home before.
"This happened probably about two years ago. And we thought it was in transition, that someone else had moved into the house," neighbor Diana Gates said.
Neighbor Harry Arouchian visited the home recently but said he saw no signs of neglect.
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"Two, three cows. Big cows. You know and I seen lots of chickens," Arouchian said.
Another neighbor, however, feels the animals are a problem.
"It's horrific. I mean, we’d go out to our backyard, we have a pool, and (think), 'What is that smell?' It's like, 'What is that smell? Who has the farm animals?'"
Those detained were expected to face questioning by the Animal Cruelty Task Force.
The homeowner was cited for maintanence issues, according to an NBC4 report.
