Cheers to Connecticut State Police and the CT Dept. of Agriculture for investigating and raiding an illegal cockfighting ring in Tolland, Connecticut. The raid led to some 100 arrests over the weekend, according to a statement from Connecticut State Police. 

“Cockfighting is not only illegal, it’s a vile, demoralizing gambling spectacle. Cockfighting is a dreadful experience for roosters, as they’re forced to attack each other until one dies, often with blades attached to their legs, resulting in mutilations,” said Priscilla Feral, president of Friends of Animals.

State police executed a search warrant at a residence on Mountain Spring Road in Tolland around 1:30 p.m. Saturday. During the raid, the DOA found 273 birds on the property. All were euthanized due their deteriorated conditions.

The homeowners were charged with cruelty to animals, professional gambling, operating a gambling premise and risk of injury to a minor. They were released after posting $250,000 bond each and are scheduled to appear at state Superior Court in Rockville June 18, state police said. 

According to Brian Foley, Tolland Town Manager and former member of the Hartford Police Department, the cockfighting events were occurring at a dormant quarry off Mountain Spring Road. Foley told the Hartford Courant the quarry has been inactive for more than a decade and is extremely secluded.

“I expect the state to release additional details in the coming days,” Foley said. “While this type of event is shocking, yesterday’s operation demonstrated clearly that the Town of Tolland is not the place to attempt this type of criminal activity. Our law enforcement partners made that abundantly clear…Animal cruelty of this type or any kind will never be tolerated in the Town of Tolland.”

Barbaric cockfighting should not be tolerated by those participating in America’s pastime either. The CT incident comes on the heels of animal advocacy groups calling for action against Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin Diaz and horse racing jockeys Jose Ortiz and Irad Ortiz Jr. for their involvement in illegal cockfighting in Puerto Rico, which was detailed in a story by USA TODAY Sports. USA Today reached out to FoA for a statement last week:

“Friends of Animals hopes that those involved in Major League Baseball, supposedly ‘America’s pastime,’ uses ethics clauses, also known as morals clauses, in player contracts and that the powers that be would suspend or terminate contracts if an athlete engages in animal cruelty rather than condone it. It’s a disgrace for anyone in the MLB to pretend that cock fighting is anything but animal cruelty.  They need to take this seriously,” Feral said.