Overview

• Lancashire Police and the RSPCA uncovered an organized cockfighting operation at stables in Lytham on May 12, following animal welfare concerns.
• Officers found makeshift fighting pits and seized 27 cockerels, some of which required medical treatment from a specialist exotic bird vet.
• Two men were arrested on suspicion of Animal Welfare Act violations and have since been released under investigation as inquiries continue.
• Cockfighting, banned in England and Wales for nearly 200 years, involves forcing birds to fight to the death and remains a cruel but persistent illegal activity.
• The joint investigation highlights law enforcement's focus on tackling rural crime and protecting animal welfare in hidden countryside operations.