Police raided a cockfight in a rural part of Dallas over the weekend, arresting three organizers and sending hundreds of spectators fleeing into the woods.

Nearly 400 people who paid $20 admission scrambled as officers broke up the cockfight Saturday at a boxing ring-sized pit, police spokesman Jerry Monreal said.

Misdemeanor citations were issued to about 100 who were caught.

The three people who were arrested face felony charges of engaging in organized crime, Monreal said.

Police said they found books used to record bets. Officers also found syringes they believe were used to inject the birds with steroids.

Monreal said animal control officers took some injured birds away and were trying to obtain others that were being held in cages.

Last month, federal and state authorities uncovered on a massive illegal cockfighting operation in Caldwell County, Texas. In that case, more than 400 roosters and hens were found, in addition to a blood-stained pit, cockfighting equipment, and breeding and housing areas on a 75-acre compound.

The Humane Society of the United States has called on members of Congress to act on proposed federal legislation that would crack down on illegal dogfighting and cockfighting. The bill has been stalled in the House Judiciary Committee.

Reference:

The Associated Press

The Boston Globe