( CNN ) -- Police seized approximately 150 birds and arrested 19 people in a Connecticut home Sunday in an investigation of alleged finch and canary fighting , the Shelton Police Department said . Police seized cash , canaries , finches and bird cages from a home in Shelton , Connecticut . In addition to the 150 birds -- mainly saffron finches -- police seized their cages and $ 8,000 in cash from a home in Shelton , said police Sgt . Robert Kozlowsky . The 19 people , all originally from Brazil , are being charged with animal cruelty and illegal gambling , Kozlowsky said . The homeowner , Jurames Goulart , 42 , was additionally charged with interfering with officers . Shelton Police say they 've never seen or heard of this kind of bird fighting before . `` This is new to us , '' Kozlowsky told CNN . `` Finches are much easier to keep under the radar than roosters because they make less noise and they would n't arouse suspicions if someone had a lot of them . '' Watch police haul away the birds » . Kozlowsky said police obtained a search warrant after a monthlong investigation and raided the home after receiving tips that an illegal fight was scheduled to take place . Wayne Kasacek of the Connecticut Department of Agriculture , which helped remove the birds , said that at least four of the finches have eye injuries . Saffron finches are canary-size birds native to South America .
19 people arrested , $ 8,000 in cash seized at a mobile home . All arrested , originally from Brazil , being charged with animal cruelty , illegal gambling . Police call such behavior unusual , say it 's easier to understand than actual behavior . Police say that raid came after tips and that some of the birds have eye injuries .