Sumter County man accused of breeding, training roosters to fight

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SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. — Dixie Ruzzo said her quiet county road was anything but, with dozens of roosters next door.

“In the morning, and then in the afternoon, at night. That's all you heard,” she said.

The commotion prompted suspicion.

“I said, I think they're having cock fights over there,” said Ruzzo.

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After a two-month long investigation, deputies arrested Jose Urueta-Guillen for allegedly breeding and training roosters how to fight.

Animal Services rescued 36 roosters. The animals had to be separated into separate pens so they wouldn’t kill each other.

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“I think that's terrible. That's not what that rooster was for,” Ruzzo said.

Urueta-Guillen is now facing numerous animal abuse charges.

Some of the roosters had serious injuries, but Animal Services said staff will nurse them back to health.