A cockfight unfolding on a Chester block ended with flashing lights and animal carriers over the weekend, as police and humane-law enforcement officers stormed the scene, arrested 25 people and recovered 52 birds, officials said.
On the 500 block of Franklin Street, investigators said they found an active cockfight in progress, with three dead roosters and dozens of injured birds. The surviving animals were taken for veterinary care.
Search warrant interrupted the event
Multiple agencies executed a search warrant Saturday night and cut the cockfight short, according to CBS Philadelphia. Officers arrested 25 people and recovered 52 live birds from the property.
The rescued birds were transported to the Pennsylvania SPCA's headquarters in Philadelphia for medical treatment. They will remain in PSPCA custody while the case moves through the system and until the birds are either surrendered or the court makes a decision.
PSPCA: 'Brutal form of animal cruelty'
"Cockfighting is one of the most brutal forms of animal cruelty," Nicole Wilson, the PSPCA's director of animal law enforcement and shelter operations, said in a statement reported by CBS Philadelphia.
Wilson described the kinds of severe injuries the PSPCA routinely sees from cockfighting operations and said humane-law enforcement investigators are continuing their work on this case. The PSPCA said the investigation is ongoing and urged anyone with information about the Chester event or similar activity to speak up.
Why agencies treat these raids as public-safety actions
Animal-welfare groups point out that cockfighting is not only gruesome for the birds involved but is also frequently linked to illegal gambling, drug activity and weapons offenses, which raises broader public-safety concerns.
The Humane Society notes that cockfighting is illegal in every state and that 42 states classify it as a felony offense. That tougher legal landscape has contributed to stepped-up enforcement at both the federal and state levels and helps explain why local police often work hand in hand with humane-law investigators on raids like the one in Chester.
How to report tips
The PSPCA asks anyone with information about this case or other suspected animal cruelty to call its cruelty hotline at 1-866-601-SPCA. Tips can be left anonymously, the organization says on its website.
The rescued birds will stay in PSPCA care while authorities review the case and any court proceedings are resolved. Police have not yet released detailed charges for the 25 people arrested as the investigation continues.
Officials are encouraging neighbors who may have video, photos or other information related to the incident to contact the PSPCA hotline or local police as the inquiry moves forward.
