Authorities arrested 25 people at a cockfight in Delco and rescued 52 live birds

Law enforcement officials arrested 25 people and rescued more than 50 birds after breaking up a cockfight in Delaware County over the weekend.

The Pennsylvania SPCA Animal Law Enforcement Team, along with local authorities including the Pennsylvania State Police and Central Delaware County Organized Crime Unit, interrupted the cockfight Saturday night at a home on the 500 block of Franklin Street in Chester, officials said. There, investigators removed 52 live birds and discovered three dead roosters while serving a search warrant on the property.

“Cockfighting is one of the most brutal forms of animal cruelty; these birds are forced to fight to near death one cut at a time, suffering devastating injuries in the process,” Nicole Wilson, director of animal law enforcement and shelter operations at the PSPCA, said in a statement.

PSPCA officials received a tip about the cockfight on Thursday, the organization said. Investigators went on to surveil the property, and noted a number of people entering and exiting it — some of whom were carrying “animal transport carriers,” the PSPCA said.

After securing a warrant, PSPCA investigators received support in serving it from the Central Delaware County Organized Crime Unit because of the number of people involved in the cockfight.

The animals rescued from the property were taken to the PSPCA’s Philadelphia headquarters, where they were to receive exams and medical care. The birds will remain in PSPCA custody until their owners surrender them, or a court case related to the incident is adjudicated, the organization said.

Officials did not identify the people arrested.

Cockfighting, the PSPCA said in its statement, is a felony in Pennsylvania. The investigation is continuing.

The PSPCA asked that anyone with information contact its animal cruelty hotline at 866-601-SPCA (7722) or email cruelty@pspca.org. Tips may be left anonymously.