Rudy Alvaro Jr. is part-owner of the Rudy's eatery chain. Photo by Rob Kuznia / SBN

Rudy Alvaro Jr., 37, faces misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty and possessing fighting cocks, according to the Sheriff’s Department. But Alvaro, who owns one of six restaurants in the award-winning chain from Carpinteria to Buellton – his father owns the rest -- said the birds were bred strictly for show, and that he has awards to prove it.

“If they would have found some kind of evidence or something, they would have arrested me and taken me to jail,” Alvaro said. “They did not find a single thing related to cockfighting.”

On Thursday morning, Santa Barbara County Sheriff deputies responded to complaints about the loud shrieks of birds coming from the home at 1668 N. Refugio Road.

In a press release, the department said the resulting search produced 77 roosters, 40 blades, and assorted paraphernalia for fighting cocks, as well as dogs. In the sport, the key-sized blades are typically fastened to birds’ feet. www.upc-online.org/summer98/cockfight_init.html

“The roosters outnumbered the hens, and the boys showed signs of being raised for cockfighting,” the release said.

Rudy Alvaro Sr., who owns five of the six restaurants, said his family is being unfairly accused.

“This is so untrue, it’s such a lie,” he said. “What he does is rooster vanity shows. He’s got the ribbons. We can back that up 100 percent.”

The elder Alvaro said his son competes regularly in the Santa Barbara County Fair.

He added:

“They said there were 77 birds, that’s true. But 55 of those birds are babies. How can they be fighting? It’s just total nonsense."

You make your business for 30-some years and one complaint ruins your whole 32 years of good reputation,” he added.

As for the blades, the younger Alvaro – who owns the Goleta restaurant -- said he collects them from around the world.

“I’ve traveled to the Philippines, to parts of Mexico – in the Philippines, it’s a national sport,” he said.

http://my_sarisari_store.typepad.com/my_sarisari_store/cockfighting/index.html

The deputies, he added,  took only two birds; the rest remain at home.

Regarding the dogs, the elder Alvaro, 59, said the family has only one. 

"He's beautiful with our grandkids," he said. "We love animals. We're afraid to even kill a snake."

Sheriff Department officials couldn’t be reached Friday night to respond to the family’s claims.