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Fifty-four charged with animal cruelty at another alleged Casey County cockfighting operation

This aerial of an alleged cockfighting operation in Casey County was taken in 2023. Since then, state police have stopped two alleged operations and a total of 68 people charged with second-degree animal cruelty.
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This aerial of an alleged cockfighting operation in Casey County was taken in 2023. Since then, state police have stopped two alleged operations and a total of 68 people charged with second-degree animal cruelty.

Kentucky State Police busted an alleged cockfighting operation in Casey County Saturday, charging 54 people with second-degree animal cruelty. Steve Hindi is the president and founder of the Illinois-based nonprofit Showing Animals Respect and Kindness.

“We had information. We called the police, we called the KSP, and they jumped right in. And, you know this, this is the way it should work. They did the job.”

A member of Hindi’s group also provided information that led to 14 second-degree animal cruelty charges at another cockfighting operation in Casey County last May. He said state police are more responsive these days, but more needs to be done.

“Frankly, I wish the police could go in and get a court order and come back and burn the damn place down, because that's pretty much what you’ve got to do. The judges, unfortunately, are not putting these guys away for a nearly long enough period.”

Hindi said for some cockfighters, a few months in prison and a fine don’t compare to the many thousands of dollars they can make before and after their sentence.

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John McGary is a Lexington native and Navy veteran with three decades of radio, television and newspaper experience.
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