(August 18, 2008)—The SPCA of Texas seized about 150 fighting birds in a Navarro County cockfighting ring bust Saturday afternoon. That’s according to one North Texas television station’s website.

KTVT-TV CBS 11 News reports on their website that an anonymous tip led sheriff officials to the site about 10 miles northwest of Corsicana, where 80-100 people were either viewing or participating in the cockfights.

A majority of the crowd, about 60, was made up of spectators; they were cited for gambling and sent home. Two others were arrested on cruelty to animal charges.

The Navarro County Sheriff's Department discovered the fight and contacted the SPCA of Texas for assistance in transporting and housing the birds. The fight was in progress when the birds were seized; several dead birds also were found during the raid.

The facility was constructed specifically for cockfighting.

SPCA officials said the living birds would be secured at an unspecified location under armed guard until the disposition hearing, which is schedule to take place during the next 10 days.

This is the second bust of its kind this year for the Navarro County Sheriff's Department.

Mike Cox, Chief Deputy of the Navarro County Sheriff's Office, told News 10 over 350 participants were involved in the bust in March. That facility had bleacher seating as well as a concession stand.

Cockfighting is a crime in all 50 states and is a felony in Texas punishable by two years in a state jail and/or a $10,000 fine.

The last state to allow legal cockfight gambling was Louisiana; its law was changed this year.