Pima County sued over 289 chickens

TUCSON — Animal control officials for Pima County wrongfully seized and destroyed a local man’s prized chickens when they mistakenly took them as part of a cockfighting operation, a recent lawsuit claims.

Now Martin Dicochea wants to peck the eyes out of the county, its Animal Control division and officer Therese Deschenes.

Dicochea claims agents came to his chicken ranch in an unincorporated area near State Route 86 and San Joaquin Road southwest of Tucson last June after receiving an anonymous complaint that Dicochea was altering roosters there and training them for cockfighting, an illegal sport.

In his six-page complaint, Dicochea says he gave agents permission to search his property. They discovered certain roosters had their spurs and wattles – the appendages on their ankles and chins, respectively – removed. They found that Dicochea also had some veterinary supplies used for treating sick and injured birds.

Deschenes allegedly was not able to distinguish between legitimate rooster-raising tools and cockfighting tools, the suit claims. So she confiscated the chickens – about 289 in all.

The county then notified Dicochea that he had 10 days to post a $660,000 bond in order to reclaim the animals and appeal the county’s decision.

According to the complaint, Dicochea didn’t have the money and submitted a written protest. The chickens were ultimately destroyed.

Tucson lawyer T.S. Hartzell is representing Dicochea. He is seeking an undisclosed sum for costs and attorney’s fees.