350 Dogs Seized In Biggest Dogfighting Raid in US History

ST. LOUIS — As many as 350 dogs were seized and about 30 people arrested during raids in five states Wednesday that animal welfare groups are calling the largest simultaneous raid of dogfighting operations in the U.S.

U.S. attorneys in four of the states announced related indictments accusing 26 people of cruelties ranging from denying animals medical treatment to shooting dogs in the head when they didn't fight well, then throwing their carcasses into a river or burning them in a barrel.

Task forces of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies conducted the raids and made arrests in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Texas and Oklahoma following a more than year-long investigation prompted by information gathered by the Humane Society of Missouri. It wasn't clear whether or to what extent the operations were related.

Kathy Warnick, president of the Humane Society of Missouri, said tips had come in from "multiple sources" about dogfighting, and anticruelty workers worked with federal authorities for 18 months.

"This heinous, heinous bloodsport is not going to be tolerated," she said.

The national Humane Society said there also were arrests in Arkansas associated with dogfighting, but no dogs were seized.

Dogfighting is banned throughout the United States and is a felony in 50 states. A law enacted two years ago increased penalties for activities that promote or encourage animal fighting after a long campaign by animal-welfare groups.

Wayne Pacelle, president and chief executive officer of the Humane Society of the United States, said dogfighting operations typically are not small acts of animal cruelty, but part of organized criminal networks.

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"This was quite an operation and marks the latest in a series of actions that are driving dogfighting, we hope, off the cliff," Pacelle said.

The Humane Society of Missouri is sheltering more than 300 dogs _ believed to be mostly pit bull terriers _ seized in Missouri and Illinois raids and their conditions are being assessed. The dogs will be housed, cared for and evaluated at an undisclosed emergency shelter in St. Louis.

HSUS spokeswoman Jordan Crump, a spokesman with the Humane Society of the United States, said each dog seized in all the raids will be evaluated by behaviorial experts in hopes of placing as many as possible in adoptive homes. The same happened for the dogs seized from Michael Vick's Bad Newz Kennels in the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback's dogfighting case. Animal welfare groups said most were able to be placed in homes or sent to an animal sanctuary.

"The Vick case taught us to see dogs in these cases as victims," said Donna Reynolds, with the Oakland, Calif.-based pit bull rescue and education group Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pit bulls, or BAD RAP.

"Animal welfare organizations will have to come together to ensure animals are comfortable in their confinement and they have the best opportunity to be evaluated, and if possible, offered rescue resources," Reynolds said.

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Associated Press reporters Betsy Taylor in St. Louis, John McFarland in Dallas, and Ed Donahue and Nedra Pickler in Washington contributed to this report.

Comments

[augusteighteenth]

I love this kind of justice.

[HisPetGoat]

"... dogfighting operations typically are not small acts of animal cruelty, but part of organized criminal networks"

That's fine law enforcement work, but that same is true of domestic elder abuse. Elder abuse is more common than spousal and child abuse combined.

The "organized criminal network" primarily at work in the case of elder abuse is the legal establishment which profits from it. Unfortunately, old people are not as cute as puppies.

[ElaineHe]

The majority of US laws still consider animals "property" and do not recognize them as sentient beings - capable of feelings and pain. It would be so easy to add Humane Education in schools. And as numerous studies are now showing - violence in adults is demonstrated early in life when they are children and "practice" their abuse on animals. There is enough compassion in this world to share between both animals and humans! Share it now! www.idausa.org

[Suzeaa]

Knuckle-dragging Rednecks. I hope all those dog fighters get cancer.

[BlackYowe]

HuffPost needs to hire an animal person on the staff ,these pictures are silly they use. These are Saint Bernard Puppies playing not dogs fighting in this photo.

[brainpower]

I agree - I looked at that photo, and for a brief second thought "Wow, someone is breeding St. Bernards to fight??!"

[elcojonu]

Saints are lovers, not fighters; however, they can SMOOCH you to death.
What a Breed !

[BlackYowe]

Yes and those pups look to be about 2 weeks old is all. No older than three.

[dandypuddin]

Agree. What a dumb choice. 300 pitbulls were rescued. Not St. Bernards. Surprised they didn't put poodles in the photo.

[commonsense2]

The human race...capable of all kinds of things...including immense cruelty and pain. To each other and other creatures. And so it goes on.

[HekmabaJuzimax]

Were any of these dogs of the Oscar Meyer variety? OK I'll shut up.

[commonsense2]

Good idea.

[Hollywooddeed]

Hey!

[weinerdog]

I recently adopted two dogs from a rescue, and I was surprised to learn from the foster 'parent' that it's perfectly legal to take a dog outside and shoot it. That being the case, it's only illegal to mistreat dogs used for fighting, but not put them down with a shotgun?

[Vickster]

Why is a shotgun worse than lethal injection?

[unwashedmasses]

Seriously?
A lethal injection puts dogs in a state of unconsciousness similar to being put under for surgery - they drift off. Then a drug in injected to stop their heart.

A shotgun? Which would you rather have?

[escribacat]

People involved in dog fighting are trashy and primitive. The punishment should fit the crime -- they should be thrown into the pit (prison) for a very long time -- maybe about the average life of a dog, say 13 years or so, times the number of dogs they have abused.

[vtphotoguy]

May I respectfully suggest that the picture accompanying the story, of the cute furry puppies playing, is less than effective for this story?

[springsm]

I thought that too...they look like young st. bernards. What also gets at me is that someone in Oakland, CA had to have the Vick case to see these dogs as victims. It doesn't take another criminal act to see this. I wonder if the law will punish the people involved or slap their hands and say "no more contact with dogs".

[Rivercs]

I think she may have meant "we" as a nation, not "we" as in her Pit Bull education group.

[ElaineHe]

I agree! This is avery serious story, and that is a very cute picture.

[gretcheno]

I wonder how many of them will be jailed?

[mlnwn]

you needed Vick's actions to realize the brutality...what did you think it was before...

[caswell]

Hmm. I wonder if a bunch of Flashy Rims and 60" inch plasmas were seized as well. Trash and ignorance are not exclusive to one race, but those within that race are a complete waste of life. I bet all of them are Christian as well.

[springsm]

Conservative fundamentalist/pentacostal christians..Don't paint them all with that brush please.

[caswell]

Duly noted. And you spelled pentecostal wrong.

[JustBNice]

People who find violence a spectator sport need help.

In the meantime let's do everything possible to stop their abuse of animals.

Congratulations to the local authorities in St. Louis.

[mad1nola]

Where's Michael Vick?