The Elkhart County Humane Society says there is a cock-fighting problem in the community, and they point to recent incidents inside city limits as possible examples.

There were 61 chickens seized in two separate incidents just three days apart. In both cases, the chickens were not originally seized because of cock fighting suspicions. They were seized because they were being kept inside Elkhart city limits, which is against city ordinance.

But once the Humane Society took the animals in, the executive director says it raised suspicions that the birds may have been used for something even more illegal; which is likely a bigger problem than most people realize.

The first incident was at 60-year-old Miguel Medina’s home at 321 Country Club Dr. last Wednesday. Police called in the Humane Society, which seized 41 chickens; 24 of which were roosters. Both police and the Humane Society say the roosters were exceptionally aggressive, based on the opinions of animal control experts that have experience with farm animals. She also said many of the roosters had injuries on different parts of their bodies.

“When you see that many roosters in the area and you see the fact that they've been altered on their head and also on the legs where the spikes are; there are some serious issues to show this is probably a cock fighting situation,” said Anne Reel, Executive Director of the Elkhart Humane Society.

Then on Saturday, about six blocks away at 1534 Columbian Ave, police seized 20 more chickens at Tomas Pina Aguilar's home. But the Humane Society says it's not as clear that the second incident may have been chicken fighting related. There were only six roosters.

“There was some problems in terms of their health, but in terms of aggression, we did not see that like we saw in the first batch,” Reel said.

WNDU spoke with Medina off camera Monday. He said he only raised the chickens for farming purposes, and had done so on his property for seven years. He says his makeshift cages were visible from the street, and that if he were trying to hide anything, he would have put the cages further back on his property.

Medina says he had no idea it was against city ordinance to have chickens on his property, and that he’d rarely heard any complaints from neighbors. His neighbors say he often gave them some of the hens' eggs.

“I know him and have no knowledge of (involvement in chicken fighting) and I don’t think he would engage in it even if it was to come up,” said Debbie McAllister, who can see Medina’s back yard from her front porch.

“He's an honest very humble guy, seems very kind and generous,” said Tom McAllister, finishing his wife’s sentence.

But police say their investigation is ongoing, and that the possibility of ties to chicken fighting in both incidents will be seen through.

“I'm not accusing any of these people of doing anything wrong other than possessing the chickens, but as law enforcement you have to look at the big picture,” said Lt. Ed Windbigler with Elkhart Police.

The Humane Society says unfortunately, cockfighting might be part of that equation.

“It definitely is alive and living in our community. Anything that people can do to make us aware of locations or suspected locations is appreciated,” Reel said.

For now, the men in both incidents will be cited and likely fined.

Medina could pay more than $1,000 in fines for his 40 birds seized, at a rate of $25 dollars an animal.

Aguilar could face $500 dollars in fines, and he also was arrested Saturday for false informing and an outstanding warrant.

The chickens were taken to bird rescues in the area, and the exact locations can't be disclosed by the Humane Society.