On July 3, authorities in Sheffield Township, Lorain County, seized 239 birds in a bust of a suspected cockfighting operation. The arrest was a coordinated effort by the Friendship Animal Protective League (FAPL) and the Lorain County Sheriff's Office. "Cockfighting is a brutal and inhumane act," Gregory Willey, FAPL's Executive Director, said in a statement obtained by WKYC. "These birds are subjected to extreme suffering for the sake of ‘entertainment’ and profit."
The FAPL, which is the only authorized humane society in the region to conduct such investigations, uncovered fighting pits and cockfighting paraphernalia such as sparring muffs. This incident marks the fourth time this year that FAPL agents have had to take action and seize roosters related to cockfighting in the area. The birds were also being kept in unsanitary conditions and lacked adequate food and water. According to a Morning Journal report, at one of the locations, birds were found in cages filled with inches of mud and waste, restricting their ability to even properly walk.
A probable cause hearing was held on July 16, as reported by WKYC, resulting in the court's decision to keep the recovered birds in the care of FAPL during the legal proceedings. The owners were permitted to post bond in an effort to maintain ownership interest in the animals, but with the stipulation that the animals would stay under FAPL’s custody while criminal charges were underway.
With the sudden influx of birds now under their care, FAPL is reaching out to the community for help. Donations to aid the animal welfare organization can be made online or delivered directly to the shelter. The humane investigations conducted by FAPL rely entirely on such contributions. In a statement to Cleveland19, Willey added, "We are committed to exposing these operations and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.” Meanwhile, FAPL is also working to potentially get these birds adopted, highlighting a community's effort to remedy a hidden brutality with care and compassion.
