Austin steps up to rehome 26 roosters

Last month, the Austin Animal Center took in 29 roosters rescued by Travis County deputies from a cockfighting ring. Three had to be euthanized due to their injuries, but after nursing the remaining 26 roosters back to health, the city’s Animal Services Department was able to rehome them only six hours after making them available for adoption, reported Kristen Auerbach, deputy chief animal services officer. Each rooster was microchipped, and anyone who adopted one was offered an anti-crowing collar. Auerbach wrote an article that appeared in the Huffington Post about what staff learned from rescuing and rehoming the roosters. “There’s a definite change happening,” said Auerbach, who compared this outcome to one stemming from a decision made by a Bastrop judge who ordered all 130 roosters seized in a cockfighting ring in March to be killed.