NINNEKAH, Okla. (KFOR) — The Grady County Sheriff’s Office first launched an investigation into a Ninnekah property on County Road 1430 in October as a possible illegal marijuana grow.
“So, of course, I contacted my narcotics unit, one of the agents, and told him, ‘let's go out and check this out,’” said Gary Boggess, the Grady County Sheriff.
Turns out, it wasn’t. But what investigators found was much more troubling.
"About four acres, is what this whole place was and it was covered in animals,” said Boggess. “Our main concern then was these dogs and these animals being taken care of and it didn't look like they were… The conditions were poor.”
Court records show investigators spent weeks trying to get Yer Vang and Chue Yang to follow a veterinarian’s recommendations and fix the conditions to properly care for the animals.
That didn’t happen, according to the court documents.
So last week, investigators served a warrant at their property. The Humane Society of the United States helped.
"There were hundreds of animals that were severely neglected. It was shocking, it was sad,” said Cynthia Armstrong, Oklahoma state director for the Humane Society of the United States.
There were shivering dogs, chained and tethered outdoors. Many without access to food and water.
"They had protruding hip bones and ribs that could be seen easily,” said Armstrong.
Koi fish were found in a murky outdoor pool, along with birds in unkept cages and dozens of roosters and hens.
"Those were identified as game fowl. We were able to identify paraphernalia used in cockfighting,” said Armstrong.
Vang and Yang were arrested. They currently each face 81 felony counts including cruelty to animals, owning birds for fighting and child neglect.
Sheriff Boggess said more charges are expected.
Their five children were taken into state custody.
The good news is many of the animals are now on the road to recovery.
"After those examinations and documenting that evidence for law enforcement, they will be transported to safe areas where they will hopefully be able to be adopted into families,” said Armstrong.
The game fowl was euthanized.
“Due to the risk of spreading infectious diseases to commercial flocks and lack of placement options for roosters, gamefowl rescued from suspected cockfighting situations typically are not able to be adopted out, leaving little choice but humane euthanasia of the roosters and hens on-scene,” said The Humane Society of the United States.
According to online court records, Vang and Yang are due in court in January.
