The Pennsylvania SPCA says its law enforcement team, along with local police, broke up a cockfight in the 500 block of Franklin Street Saturday.
Officials said they were able to recover 52 live chickens and found three dead roosters.
The PSPCA said they received a tip about the cockfight on Thursday. Officers then conducted surveillance of the location and said they saw numerous people coming in and out of the spot, adding that some were also carrying animal transport carriers.
PSPCA officers were then able to secure a search warrant and called the Central Delaware County Tactical Response Team for backup.
The recovered birds were taken to the Pennsylvania SPCA's Philadelphia headquarters, where veterinary staff will examine them and provide any necessary medical care.
The birds will remain under PSPCA custody.
Officials say cockfighting is a felony under Pennsylvania law.
"Cockfighting is one of the most brutal forms of animal cruelty; these birds are forced to fight to near death one cut at a time, suffering devastating injuries in the process," said Nicole Wilson, Director of Animal Law Enforcement and Shelter Operations at the Pennsylvania SPCA. "We will work to prosecute those responsible to the fullest extent of the law."
The investigation remains open and ongoing.
Anyone with information about this case, or other cases of animal cruelty, is urged to call the Pennsylvania SPCA's Cruelty Hotline at (866) 601-SPCA, or cruelty@pspca.org. Tips can be left anonymously.