136 chickens seized and euthanized after Lee County cockfighting ring busts

136 birds that were removed from two separate suspected cockfighting rings in Lee County in August have been humanely euthanized. A spokesperson for Lee County confirmed that the 136 birds, which were rescued from suspected cockfighting operations in Lehigh Acres and Buckingham, were humanely euthanized. "Fighting birds that are seized during raids are generally not considered suitable for adoption," the spokesperson said. "Due to their conditioning and behavioral characteristics, these birds generally cannot be safely integrated into standard backyard flocks or typical home environments." The news comes after Lee County deputies uncovered two separate cockfighting rings in late August. In one incident, deputies responded to a mobile home trailer fire on Westwood Acres Road in Buckingham, and they said they discovered multiple roosters, a fighting ring, and evidence of a cockfighting operation while clearing the property. Deputies removed approximately 83 birds from the scene and arrested the owner, Raul Cartaya Ramos, on an animal cruelty charge, according to LCSO. In an unrelated incident, deputies were called to a possible cockfighting ring along Nashville Avenue South in Lehigh Acres. Deputies found multiple injured roosters housed in separate enclosures, evidence of a training area, sparring muffs, a dummy chicken, and used syringes. Yelandis Rodriguez Hernandez was arrested after deputies removed 53 birds from the home. Hernandez is also facing an animal cruelty charge. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV