Historic Cockfighting Bust Results In 400+ Birds

NORTHAMPTON, MA—Nearly 400 fighting birds were brought in to MSPCA's Nevins Farm after the largest cockfighting bust in the organization's history. The bust, which occurred in Northampton, resulted in Nevins Farm closing down its barn for the time being. The rescued birds are being monitored by Methuen's police department.

With a warrant in hand, police raided the buildings located at the Ravenwold Greenouses, 1095 Florence Road, in Northampton.The vast majority of the birds - save for about 100 hens - are roosters purposefully bred for cockfighting, a notoriously vicious "sport" in which birds a placed beak-to-beak in a small ring until they fight to their death.

While cockfighting persists in underground pockets and in isolated situations, it is illegal in all 50 states.

Mike Keiley, director of adoption centers and programs at the MSPCA-Nevins Farm, along with his teams, worked through the night prior to the Memorial Day weekend to settle the birds onto the farm.

"These birds are aggressive and must be housed separately to keep them from attacking each other," he said in a statement. "Cockfighting is an extremely cruel blood sport and we condemn the callous disregard for life shown by those responsible for raising these birds to fight."

Keiley also said that most of the birds, prior to entering the ring, would have been fitted with sharp metal spurs designed to slash and kill their opponents.

"The kindest thing we can do for the vast majority of these birds is to humanely euthanize them," Keiley said in a statement. "The roosters cannot be rehabilitated-all we can do now is spare them the brutal and bloody fate that awaits them in the ring."

Rarely does Nevins Farm close, but it is while the birds are inside. Keiley expects it to re-open by the end of the week. Adoptions for all other barn animals have not been impacted.

Keiley said the staff will do everything possible to rear upward of 45 rooster chicks who - though bred for fighting - may be adoptable in the months ahead, and about 100 hens will likely be placed in sanctuaries or responsible homes as soon as their medical and behavior checks are completed, according to the announcement.

The MSPCA notes that a large surrender of 39 quail, 13 pheasants and 4 geese took place from a home in the greater Merrimack Valley area on May 21, also adding to its bird population.

"Our bird population soared from about two dozen to well over 400 in the span of 48 hours," said Keile in a statement.

Several organizations assisted in the removal of the birds, and with equipment and staff including the New Hampshire SPCA , St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center, the Dakin Human Society, Animal Rescue League of Bedford, New Hampshire and Lowell Humane Society.

Photos via MSPCA