It happened overnight at a home on the 2100 block of East Ann Street in the Port Richmond section of the city.
The Pennsylvania SPCA says officers with its Humane Law Enforcement team and the Philadelphia Police Department broke up a cockfight while it was in progress. They seized over 100 birds, both living and deceased.
Paraphernalia consistent with cockfighting was also recovered at the scene.
Authorities say 21 people were arrested and they're all facing animal cruelty charges.
“Animal fighting is a brutal crime, one in which the victims, whether they be dogs or in this case birds, fight to the death,” said Nicole Wilson, Director of Humane Law Enforcement at the Pennsylvania SPCA. “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.”
All of the birds removed from the home, which included fighting roosters and hens, were being evaluated and cared for at the PSPCA’s headquarters.
Anyone with information about this case, or other cases involving animal cruelty, is urged to call the Pennsylvania SPCA’s Cruelty Hotline at (866) 601-SPCA.