LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — A judge ruled that officials did not have the right to take a Lancaster County woman’s roosters amid an investigation into the animals being linked to a cockfighting ring in Maryland.
PSCPA officials were “not justified” in seizing 22 roosters that Kelly Cole, 46, of Holtwood, was taking care of, Lancaster County Judge Jeffrey Conrad wrote in his ruling filed on Dec. 18.
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There was not enough evidence that the roosters were being used for cockfighting or neglected, Conrad wrote.
“The court found that the seizure of animals was not justified in that there was no credible evidence of the animals being kept or used for animal fighting and there was no credible evidence the animals were neglected or starving,” Conrad wrote.
Investigators learned in October 2023 about cockfighting at a location in Havre De Grace, Md., and also learned that Cole possibly owned the roosters and she used to live there.