FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:  June 4, 2019

Contact: Erin Opsahl

(970) 423-8901

Erin.Opsahl@SummitCountyCO.Gov

STATE VETERINARIAN RECOMMENDATION FOLLOWED TO 

EUTHANIZE SEIZED ROOSTERS

    SUMMIT COUNTY, CO – On May 15, 2019 Colorado State Patrol requested the assistance of Summit County Animal Control (SCAC) to impound 33 roosters that were in the back of a vehicle that they were impounding.  The roosters were being transported from Kentucky to California in homemade wooden boxes that measured 7”W X 7” H x 14” L.  Upon arrival, the roosters were individually removed from their boxes, examined by a veterinarian, documented with photos and notes, and set up in dog size airline carriers.  The birds were cared for by Animal Control staff and volunteers for three weeks.  

SCAC considered rehoming the birds to various rescues that have been in contact with us.  After numerous conversations with the State Veterinarians Office and Colorado State University Avian experts, it was determined that the birds should be euthanized due to the potential disease risk.  Dr. Keith Roehr, the State Veterinarian for the Colorado Department of Agriculture, stated, “In the past we have been involved with a number of cases involving game birds that are commonly used for fighting purposes.  Through these cases, we have established that game birds present an elevated risk for a variety of avian diseases.  Some of these avian diseases can be adequately screened through testing, for some other diseases, either the testing may not be confirmatory or the pathogens can be latent only to manifest from stress or other causes of immune suppression.  Because of the interstate movement of these birds into naive bird populations and the disease risks that are inherent, we recommend these birds not be placed with bird rescues or into other facilities in Colorado.”   

On June 4,, 2019 the birds were euthanized and tested for avian diseases with the support of a veterinarian from United States Department of Agriculture/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services.  Director Lesley Hall said, “We wanted to have a veterinarian with avian experience to help us with this very unfortunate and sad task so that we could ensure it would be done as humanely as possible.”  

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