Buffalo, USA - Two sheep, three geese, a rooster and some chickens were taken from the basement of a city home where a group of Russian refugees had intended to slaughter them as part of a religious ceremony, authorities said.
"They admitted that they planned to use the animals as a sacrifice and eat them," said Frank Poincelot, a city pest control and wildlife officer.
The ritual Islamic sacrifice is done once a year, he said.
The men purchased the animals at an auction in rural Springville and brought them to their apartment in a van Wednesday. Concerned neighbors called police, fearing the animals would be used for illegal fighting.
No charges were immediately filed. "We're not sure if we can even charge them with cruelty because the animals had just got there and they were healthy," Poincelot said.
City ordinances prohibit farm animals on residential property.
Poincelot said he has seen other cases where immigrants and refugees move to Buffalo and are not aware that they cannot perform rituals that were done openly in their countries. Sometimes they are directed to a regulated farm.
"We don't want to stop them from practicing their religion, but they can't do this in the city of Buffalo," he said.