Filipino cockfighting afficionados are outraged over reports that more than a thousand fighting birds have been euthanized after the RCMP and the SPCA in British Columbia raided the largest cockfighting ring ever discovered in Canada.

The ring involved 1,270 fighting birds, and more than 80 pieces of evidence – including blades and fighting paraphenalia - were gathered last week from three separate farming properties in the agricultural suburb of Cloverdale, just east of Vancouver.

Following a lengthy investigation by the RCMP's integrated illegal gaming enforcement team, a warrant was executed by a 17-member SPCA team, including special constables, emergency personnel and veterinary staff, as well as 11 RCMP officers and three bylaw officers.

To many Filipinos, the action was overkill, quite literally.

Cockfighting is a time-honoured tradition in The Philippines. Most rural homes feature at least two cocks – some kept as food animals, others as fighting pets. Families fuss over the birds, providing them with vitamins, regular showers and the pick of the table scraps.
For fighting, blades are strapped the birds' legs and gambling money rides on the popular bloodsport.

The seizure and destruction of the Cloverdale birds drew fierce feedback on the cockfighting website, sabong.com.

“It’s only a matter of time that our beloved feathered warriors will be an endangered species,” cockfighting enthusiast Sonny commented on the website. “These organizations have no right to manipulate or dictate and deprive us from enjoying our passion.”

He added that, “God created all things with purpose and one of these is a sport associated with fighting of animals as long as the public or majority of the population has no objection.”
“What is the ratio of the SPCA members compare to the majority of that in our sport? Not even two per cent. They don’t have any idea how we care for this bird from the time they are hatch up to the time we fight.”

Another commented that, “I think they have better things to do then meddle with our favorite sport. Fighting cocks, since ancient times, even in the wilds, fight for territorial supremacy. It is their instinct and nature. If they will have their ways they want to put gamecocks on the list of extinct breeds of birds.”

One sabong.com member went so far as to suggest cockfighting be designated a religion.
“They cannot persecute a person for its religious right,” he said. “That's against the Constitution.”

Meanwhile, animal welfare advocacy group, The Vancouver Humane Society, told the Asian Pacific Post that it was pleased with the action taken by both RCMP and the SPCA in the recent bust.

“We are completely against cockfighting,” said VHS communications director Peter Fricker.
When asked to comment about the mass killing of the birds, said Fricker: “Killing by way of 'cervical dislocation' is required by the law and it is the only alternative left to put an end to cockfighting.” Fricker further explained that saving the fighting cocks is no longer an option since these birds are born and bred to fight and kill.