- Delaware, USA -
Delaware Animal Services (DAS), the enforcement unit within the Office of Animal Welfare, announced the arrest of 43-years-old ANDREA KEEN and her husband, 51-years-old BILLY C. KEEN (both pictured).
The couple, of Felton, were arraigned on August 18, 2023, in relation to a cockfighting incident that took place at their farm in May 2023.
According to a press release by DAS, on May 6, 2023, they received a report about an illegal cockfight in progress at a farm in the 3000 block of Sandtown Road in Felton and an animal welfare officer responded to investigate. Upon arrival, “the officer found an active cockfight taking place with a crowd of people in attendance. Attendees quickly fled the scene”, stated the press release.
DAS launched an investigation and obtained a search warrant for the property. From the investigation it emerged that husband and wife own the farm and “host illegal cockfighting events on the property.”
According to Steve Hindi, founder and president of the nonprofit SHARK (Showing Animals Respect and Kindness), a team of SHARK investigators used their drones to confirm an active illegal cockfighting at the KEENS’ farm.
A sign on the property names it as Three Cedars Farm “which claims to be a training track”, said Hindi. SHARK then alerted the Delaware State Police to the criminal operation and according to Hindi, “troopers were dispatched but they were waylaid by a shooting incident that left a single unarmed Animal Services officer to try to deal with the criminals which is not a good situation.”
Hindi further said that after SHARK shared video evidence with DAS, a search warrant was obtained and executed on the morning of Tuesday, May 16, 2023.
DAS said that husband and wife were each charged with one felony count of possessing an animal for the purpose of fighting. The wife was additionally charged with a one felony count of being present for animal fighting. After their arraignment the duo were released on their own recognizance and are expected back in court on August 25, 2023, for a preliminary hearing.
With regards to the KEENS, a video published by Steve Hindi advised that according to public records, “the owner of the property is a woman that has been employed by the Delaware department of Education since January 2022, as an Instructional Support Technician. Prior to her job at the Department of Education the property owner worked at the Delaware division of Public Health as a Clinic Manager. The division of Health includes ironically Animal Services. The property owner’s husband worked for the state of Delaware as a Department of Transportation Maintenance Area Supervisor.”
DAS ask anyone with information concerning this case to contact them at (302) - 255 - 4646. All tips may remain confidential.
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The KEENS’ mugshots shared from Delaware Animal Services.
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