43 Live Roosters Discovered in Cockfighting Raid

Authorities discovered 43 live roosters and eight dead ones in a recent cockfighting raid in Cleveland, OH, which ended in nearly 40 suspects being detained, reports the Humane Society of the United States. While HSUS was quick to applaud the authorities for acting on the criminal activity, they continue to urge state legislators to make cockfighting a felony—Ohio is the only state in the Great Lakes region that does not put a severe penalty on the cruel sport. The source also notes that cockfighting is usually linked to other criminal activities; Mexican cartels were found to be using cockfighting pits to smuggle drugs, and three cockfights last year ended in deadly shootouts.