A $50 fine is the maximum penalty for cockfighting in Alabama, a punishment an animal rights group called “a joke” following the breakup of a Mobile County operation that included stadium seating and concessions.

“Alabama’s anti-cockfighting law was weak in 1896 when it was adopted the year William McKinley was elected as U.S. President,” said Animal Wellness Action President Wayne Pacelle said in a statement to AL.com on Wednesday.. “The law is a joke, and it has given cockfighters confidence to act with impunity, lawlessness and cruelty in the Yellowhammer State.”

Animal Wellness Action called on Gov. Kay Ivey and the state Legislature to beef up the Alabama law in the wake of 10 arrests last summer in Grand Bay that led to the seizure of more than 60 roosters.

Details of the operation, which featured a leaderboard and concessions such as chicken fingers, were disclosed by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office in a story first reported by Fox 10 on Monday. Deputies were led to the location through an anonymous tip.

Alabama has not upgraded penalties for cockfighting in 127 years, with the maximum punishment set at $50 for those caught cockfighting.

The state also does not have any laws to punish those who breed roosters for cockfighting, view cockfighting or traffic in knives or special cockfighting blades known as gaffs, according to Animal Wellness Action.

However, federal prosecutors have gone after Alabama cockfighters under federal law.

In 2021, seven Alabamians were charged with conspiracy, animal fighting and gambling charges in connection with a Verbena cockfighting operation.

Like the Grand Bay cockfighting arena, the Verbena operation had stadium seating, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

“The people of Alabama shouldn’t have to rely on the U.S. Department of Justice to bring cockfighting criminals to justice,” Pacelle said. “We call on the Governor and state lawmakers to address this gross deficiency in the law. What more evidence do they need that cockfighters are getting away with a cluster of crimes nearly every day of the year in Alabama?