DALLAS; VAN ZANDT COUNTY (July 17, 2026) — The SPCA of Texas, in partnership with the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office, removed nearly 200 birds from an alleged cockfighting operation in Van Zandt County on Thursday, July 16, 2026. One individual, Justin Blake Hart, was arrested at the scene and charged with Cockfighting, a State jail felony. He is being held at the Van Zandt County Justice Center with a recommended $35K bond.

Acting under search and seizure warrants issued as part of an ongoing criminal investigation, members of the SPCA of Texas Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit, the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office and the Wills Point Police Department executed the warrants early Thursday morning at a property near Grand Saline, Texas.

A preliminary count indicates approximately 181 birds were seized, including 174 roosters and 7 hens.

“Cockfighting is a cruel and illegal activity that’s often connected to organized crime and other criminal activity that threatens the safety of our communities,” said Courtney Burns, CAWA, Chief Investigator of the SPCA of Texas Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit. “These investigations can take months of coordination, and we’re thankful for the partnership of the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office. By working together, we are able to uncover illegal bird fighting operations and hold those responsible for this cruelty accountable under the law.”

The Van Zandt Sheriff’s Office seized approximately $55,000 in cash, suspected cockfighting paraphernalia, specialized bird transport equipment, and vehicles and trailers believed to have been used in connection with the operation. They also confiscated electronic devices from the scene.

The birds were transported to the SPCA of Texas’ Russell E. Dealey Animal Rescue Center in Dallas, where they will receive veterinary evaluations and daily care pending the outcome of legal proceedings.

A civil custody hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at 10 a.m. before the Honorable Judge Wade McMillan in the Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 Court in Canton, Texas.

Cockfighting is a crime in all 50 states, including Texas, where it is a felony to cause birds to fight with one another and/or to use property for cockfighting. The offense is punishable by up to two years in a state jail and/or a fine of up to $10,000. In Texas, it is also a Class A misdemeanor to possess, manufacture or sell cockfighting paraphernalia and to own or train a rooster with the intent to force the bird to fight. Attending a cockfight as a spectator is a Class C misdemeanor. Federal law also prohibits any interstate or foreign transport of fighting animals.

Cockfighting is a violent blood sport in which birds are bred and conditioned to fight, often with knives or gaffs attached to their legs. These illegal operations are frequently associated with other criminal activity, including illegal gambling and narcotics offenses.

The criminal investigation remains active. Any criminal charges will be determined by the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office and the appropriate prosecuting authority.

An arrest is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

About SPCA of Texas

Founded in 1938, the SPCA of Texas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare organization that operates one shelter, one spay/neuter clinic, one mobile adoptions vehicle, and one animal rescue center, all located in Dallas. The organization also maintains a team of animal cruelty investigators who rescue hundreds of animals from cruelty each year in North Texas counties. The SPCA of Texas serves as an active resource center for services that bring people and animals together to enrich each other’s lives.

The SPCA of Texas is not affiliated with any other entity and does not receive general operating funds from the City of Dallas, the State of Texas, the federal government, or any national humane organization. The SPCA of Texas is dedicated to creating a brighter future for animals, people, and the community. Learn more at spca.org.

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View Photos From the Case Here
Mugshot: courtesy Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office

All other photos: courtesy SPCA of Texas