Officers from the police and RSPCA removed roosters, hens, and dogs from properties in West Yorkshire and Lancashire during an investigation into criminal groups involved in illegal bird fighting.
When examined by a veterinary surgeon at sites in Bradford and Accrington, some animals were found to be suffering and had wounds consistent with fighting, the court was told.
Kirklees Magistrates Court heard the discoveries were made during an operation by the RSPCA’s special operations unit working with police forces nationwide.
The animals’ condition was outlined in an application to the court seeking ownership of the creatures from the charity.
Philip Brown, acting for the RSPCA, explained that significant financial incentives motivate criminal organisations to participate in this activity as it generates income through betting.
Events are organised nationwide through complex networks of contacts, usually using social media to publicise them.
The court heard details came from mobile phones seized during the joint operation.
Mr Brown said warrants were executed at the homes of Daniel Burns and Sadir Hussian.
Officers attended Burns’ address on Kingfisher Grove in Bradford where they found a rooster and three hens in the rear garden.
A vet assessed the birds and found one of the hens, which later died, was clearly lethargic with swelling to its face, while the rooster had injuries to its legs.
Phone footage showed roosters being set against each other to fight in the garden on at least two occasions the previous year.
The birds were then taken into the RSPCA’s care.
Burns was arrested and admitted owning the birds but claimed they had not been used for cockfighting.
Mr Brown said video evidence was shown to him displaying him apparently supervising a bout between two roosters.
Burns later told officers the birds were simply for practice fighting.
The solicitor said he claimed if they fought well together and showed fighting ability, he could command a better price when selling them.
Burns said the rooster would be rehomed once the RSPCA took ownership.
He added the rooster was now essentially a healthy animal ready for rehoming.
Magistrates were told Greater Manchester Police officers searched Hussain’s home on Empress Street in Accrington together with a neighbouring allotment he owned.
Two bull breed dogs, along with roosters and hens, were found at the allotment.
The solicitor said each of those animals, according to the vet, had been kept in unsuitable conditions with no access to food or water.
No enrichment was provided for the animals.
Some were housed in very dark and cramped enclosures unsuited to the size or aggressive nature of the birds.
Two hens had injuries consistent with aggression.
Mr Brown explained that within a group of hens, when resources are scarce, competition develops and larger birds try to dominate smaller ones, injuring weaker birds in the process.
These injuries were visible to the vet and should have been noticeable to a responsible owner.
The vet determined those animals were suffering.
Two roosters had substantial bruising to their head, neck, chest, and legs.
The court heard one of the dogs, a young puppy, had wounds and scars on its body that had caused it pain.
Mr Brown noted the other adult dog had ears that had been illegally cropped and facial scarring indicating the animal had likely been involved in illegal activity.
Both dogs were examined and classified as a prohibited breed and considered dangerous.
Mr Brown told the court that following the court’s decision, the RSPCA would be compelled to seek police permission to destroy both animals.
While clearly very unfortunate, humane destruction remains a much better outcome for these animals than the alternative their owner provided.
Neither defendant attended the hearing, and magistrates granted the transfer of ownership of all animals in the case to the RSPCA.