CLARNO — Dozens of birds were recovered by the Green County Sheriff’s Office and two area residents were recently arrested as part of a bust against an illegal cockfighting ring.

Water Minh Dang, 36, and Phuong P.T. Nguyen, 39, both of Clarno, were taken into custody after deputies executed a search of a home in the W6900 block of County B southwest of Monroe just before 5 p.m. Wednesday. Officials were informed a cockfighting operation was present at the residence, as well as injured animals.

Officers discovered a building used for fighting, miscellaneous cages and equipment related to an illegal operation. Three birds had to be euthanized at the site. Officers seized another 37 adult chickens and 16 chicks.

According to court records, Dang pleaded no contest to a Class I felony count of failure to pay child support in Columbia County in 2015, which was dismissed two years later as part of an agreement with the court. Three other charges of failing to pay child support for 120 days or more were dismissed.

Nguyen was arrested by the sheriff’s department on domestic-abuse related charges of disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property after deputies were called to the same residence just after 9 a.m. Tuesday. 

Dang and Nguyen were each arrested on a felony charge of instigating fights between animals. They were taken to Green County Jail pending an arraignment.