Philadelphia police raided a home in Port Richmond Friday night, arresting nearly two dozen people in connection with a cockfighting ring in Port Richmond.
The raid took place on the 2100 block of East Ann Street.
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More than 100 birds were seized, according to the Pennsylvania SPCA, both living and deceased. In total, 21 suspects were arrested, and "paraphernalia consistent with cockfighting" was also found.
Police chased down suspects who fled from the scene, including a few who broke bones in their ankles while trying to climb walls during the chase, according to 6ABC.
“Animal fighting is a brutal crime, one in which the victims, whether they be dogs or in this case birds, fight to the death,” Nicole Wilson, Director of Humane Law Enforcement at the Pennsylvania SPCA, said in a statement Saturday.
“Though even the possession of fighting paraphernalia carries a misdemeanor charge, these horrific practices continue to occur in Philadelphia and throughout the state. We hope that by shining a light on this case and bringing the offenders to justice, we can deter the commission of future crimes.”
The animals were transported to the Pennsylvania SPCA's Erie Avenue headquarters, where the SPCA will provide care for the surviving animals.
This is a developing story, and will be updated when more information becomes available.
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