Oakdale man charged with animal cruelty after officials find evidence of fighting ring

FOREST LAKE, Minn. — An Oakdale man is facing animal cruelty charges after Washington County prosecutors allege that he was involved in a cockfighting ring. 

Chou Yang, 50, is facing a felony charge of using, training or possessing animals for fights and a misdemeanor charge of possessing a substance to enhance animals' abilities to fight. 

According to the complaint, Companion Animal Control agents searched a property in Forest Lake to follow up on previous animal cruelty concerns. The agents reported dogs on the property without acceptable living conditions and dead chickens throughout the yard. 

Roosters were housed separately from one another and had their natural spurs removed. The Animal...