SEATTLE -- A South Seattle man accused of raising roosters for an alleged cockfighting ring has been charged.

Prosecutors have charged Guillermo S. Sijera, 53, of animal fighting after seizing 34 live game fowl and cockfighting paraphernalia from his home.

According to the statement of probable cause, several of the seized roosters had alterations to their body, including wattles, combs and earlobes removed, and one or both of he spurs cut. These alterations are "consistent with those made on birds trained and used in cockfighting," investigators said.

Also found at Sijera's home were knives, sparring muffs, tools, medical supplies, iron-enriched vitamins and supplements -- all supplies often used by those who organize or participate in cockfighting rings. Along with the paraphernalia, officers found a dismembered chicken foot "that appeared to be used for practice in applying the knifes," the statement said.

Investigators were first made aware of Sijera's case after a neighbor filed a complaint with the Seattle Animal Shelter in June. The neighbor reported having seen two men holding roosters and swinging them at each other "in what appeared to be an attempt to get them to fight," according to the document. The neighbor added the residence had a dog chained up in the middle of the backyard, which housed makeshift sheds and coups.

When an animal control officer visited the residence in the 3800 block of Renton Avenue South, a woman told her the home housed 13 roosters -- the maximum allowed under city code. When asked why she had so many roosters, the woman responded, "For the eggs," the statement said.

The animal control officer told investigators she did not see any hens in the cage with the roosters, and noted "it would be unusual to house them in separate cages," the document stated. She added that roosters are not necessary for the hens' production of eggs, and that that "it is unusual to have more than one adult rooster with a small number of hens if the owners desire fertilized eggs."

The officer also noted that several of the roosters had been physically altered in ways described above.

The findings prompted police officers to serve a search warrant on the residence in September, at which time Sijera's children and wife "admitted that they were aware of the chickens and that they were aware that they were involved in cockfighting," detectives said.

Sijera's son initially told police the family was raising birds to be sent to the Philippines for fighting as "the birds in the United States are of a better quality," but he later admitted his father was raising them for local fights.

Sijera, whose primary language is Tagalog, told investigators with the help of his son that his birds were being used in a cockfighting ring in Auburn, which had recently been busted by police. He said he didn't know the exact location of the place as a friend usually picked him up and drove him.

Records indicate Sijera had been arrested in Skagit County in 2001 in an incident involving a cockfighting ring, a marijuana grow and the discharge of a firearm.

At the time, officers recovered 21 dead fighting chickens, as well as 25 live fighting chickens. Sijera, who was found with blood on his hands, admitted he had handled some of the birds involved in the fights. He was later convicted of animal fighting.

Sijera is scheduled to be arraigned in King County on Oct. 29.