Animal Wellness Action and SHARK Commend Harris County Sheriff’s Office for Swift Action in Rooster Fighting Ring Investigation

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — Animal Wellness Action applauds the Harris County Sheriff’s Office for its rapid and decisive response to a report from Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) of alleged rooster fighting in Crosby, Texas, resulting in the discovery of hundreds of live roosters and numerous deceased birds at a property where cockfighting was reportedly underway.

When deputies responded to a tip on Saturday, they encountered more than 300 live roosters and approximately 50 dead birds, as well as evidence of ongoing animal fighting. According to officials, the scene suggested that violent bloodsport activities were taking place before law enforcement intervened.

“We commend the Harris County Sheriff’s Office for acting quickly and without hesitation to stop this blatant cruelty,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy.“Cockfighting is a barbaric form of animal abuse and has no place in civilized society. Law enforcement’s willingness to respond in real time sends a powerful message that animal cruelty will not be ignored. We urge prosecutors to pursue the strongest possible penalties under Texas law and beyond.”

Pacelle emphasized that illegal animal fighting is often intertwined with other crimes, including illegal gambling, narcotics trafficking, and weapons offenses — further underscoring the importance of strong enforcement and vigilant policing. He also acknowledged the ongoing, important investigations and law enforcement work of Patricia Mercer and her Houston SPCA, one of the strongest local humane organizations in the nation.

Steve Hindi, president of Showing Animals Respect & Kindness (SHARK), also praised the sheriff’s department for its professionalism and commitment to upholding anti-cruelty laws. “Swift law enforcement action is key to dismantling these cruel underground operations,” Hindi said. “When we passed on an anonymous tip to the Sheriff’s Office, they acted decisively and protected not only vulnerable animals but the broader community from the criminal elements that flock to these events. We stand with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and all partners who refuse to tolerate animal fighting in any form.”

Animal Wellness Action and SHARK encourage more communities across Texas and the nation to follow Harris County’s example by supporting and enforcing existing animal cruelty laws, advocating for stronger legal tools such as the Fighting Inhumane Gambling & High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act (S. 1454 / H.R. 3946) — bipartisan federal legislation endorsed by more than 1,000 agencies and organizations, including the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas — which would modernize federal enforcement tools to crack down on animal fighting ventures in the United States.