Three properties in the Cloverdale area of Surrey operated what might have been Canada's largest cockfighting ring, where birds tore at each other for the entertainment of gamblers.

At these invitation-only events, pairs of specially trained roosters had long, hooked knives strapped to their feet and were driven into a frenzy by their handlers. The birds were then released to fight each other, often to the death, and all well out of the public eye.

In April, 2006, the B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals received a tip relating to one of the Surrey properties. They informed the RCMP, which began an investigation that lasted nearly two years and, this week, led to a dramatic bust of the cockfighting operation.

Police and SPCA investigators searched three properties in Cloverdale over a 21-hour period, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday morning and finishing at 6:30 a.m. Thursday. They turned up fighting roosters, six fighting pits and large amounts of cockfighting paraphernalia. Many of the birds had stab wounds or were missing eyes or feet.

Among the items found were spurs - sharp two- or three-inch blades attached to roosters' feet so that they can slash each other during fights - needles and veterinary supplies, scorecards, tethers and muffs, which are like small boxing gloves for the birds' feet during practice matches. According to the SPCA, many of these items are easily purchased online.

The fighting birds would have been tethered to barrels on six- or eight-foot leads for most of their lives and kept in a constant state of agitation, said Shawn Eccles, chief animal protection officer with the B.C. SPCA. These specially bred fighters, called "game fowl," were kept in close proximity to other fighting cocks to make them more aggressive. They were occasionally let free to breed with hens or to practice fighting other birds, but they were tied up again soon after.

"These birds are encouraged to fight to the death," said Mr. Eccles, calling cockfighting one of the few remaining blood sports. "If they don't die in the ring, they will die shortly after, probably as a result of injuries sustained during the fighting."

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