More than 150 animals were seized by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, near the southern Tucson neighborhood, after reports of cockfights were reported Tuesday.

Deputies responding to reports of cockfights at addresses near East Old Vale Road and South Country Club Road found a large gathering on one property on Saturday, according to the Sheriff’s Department. and found evidence of cockfighting.

Detectives responded with search warrants and made several arrests, the sheriff’s department said. The arrestees were charged with cockfighting, possession of a cockfight, possession of drugs, driving under the influence, pending warrants and willful cruelty to animals, the agency said. Cockfighting is a fifth degree felony in Arizona.

Four people were arrested, according to Pima County Sheriff’s spokesman Lieutenant Gordon Downing.

The sheriff’s department said animals seized by authorities included roosters, hens, chicks, dogs and turtles.

Many roosters were injured and some died, Downing said. Downing said the animals were taken to the Pima Animal Rescue Centre.

The Sheriff’s Department said the case was still ongoing.

“The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is actively pursuing cases of this nature,” the agency said in a statement Tuesday.

Anyone with information about this incident should call 911 or 88 CRIME (520-882-7463).

In a statement to the Republic of Arizona, Wayne Pasell, president of the advocacy group Animal Wellness Action, said Arizona was one of the last states to vote-led and criminalize cockfighting. . The practice was outlawed by Arizona voters in 1998.

“It’s heartening to see the Pima County Sheriff’s Office enforcing the law and signaling that cockfighting is not acceptable in Arizona,” Pasell said in a statement. “Cockfighting is a barbaric and gruesome act, and people enjoy watching animals kill each other only for entertainment or illegal gambling.”

This article originally appeared in the Republic of Arizona. Tucson cockfight incident: more than 150 recovered