The president of an animal rights group whose tips about alleged cockfighting pits led to animal cruelty charges in Casey County Saturday and last year said the illegal sport can be a breeding ground for avian influenza. Steve Hindi, with Showing Animals Respect and Kindness, said cockfighters are among the biggest threats for spreading bird flu. “The commercial breeders, they’re taking all the steps they think they can to try and limit diseases from being transmitted. But these cockfighters, they’re not taking any precautions at all. They’re just moving their birds around willy-nilly.” Saturday, state police charged 54 people at an alleged cockfighting operation in Dunville with second-degree animal cruelty. Last May, at another Casey County site, 15 people were charged with the same crime, a misdemeanor. Hindi said often, the animal cruelty violations are just the beginning. “Now, with the Kentucky State Police going in and taking care of business, they’re gonna find more than cockfighters. They’re gonna find weapons dealers, drug dealers, all kinds of things, but these guys are gonna move around.” Hindi said state police have become more responsive to tips about cockfights, but he wishes charges and sentences were tougher. ** WEKU is working hard to be a leading source for public service, and fact-based journalism. Monthly supporters are the top funding source for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU by making your donation. The post Animal rights group president says cockfights are breeding grounds for bird flu, other crimes appeared first on The Lexington Times.