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

[slvrfox857]

I have been spinning toward depression at reading so many stories this week about cruelty to animals. (like dogs, but all others as well) are living beings, like us. They love their offspring, they eat and desire to pass on their genes, they understand fear, pain and suffering, and they are not our accessories, nor are they here for our entertainment. If we don't learn that soon, we will ultimately destroy ourselves.

Oh, and P.S., I am born and bred in Texas. Not everyone from the south is the sort of trash that fights dogs, or enjoys cockfights and bullfights, etc.

[rubygreen]

I completely relate to how you are feeling. I haven't been able to go to those threads, I already know what is going on, and don't want the visual or the language in my head.

I just try to do my part locally, not affiliated with any organization, and donate money to some groups who have to deal with this disgusting business.

[BannedInBoston]

How many of the dogs were actually fighting and how many were betting on those fights? (Sounds like an Onion headline, honestly.)

[rubygreen]

What difference does that make? Dog fighting, besides being against the law, is a cruel bl00d sport, unlike politics and Palin's whining. Maybe you should be chained, beaten, tormented, and thrown into a pit. Or better yet maybe you should be used as bait.

[socalcde]

Kinda hard to make light of it regardless.

[hollywoody5000]

How obscene. And no surprise the biggest dog fighting rings in the country are in the southern hick red neck states. I hope they continue to round up these hoodlums and put them in prison where they belong and keep working on eradicating dog fighting from our country completely. There will always be savages who will try to continue this blood sport exploitation of innocent loving animals, but they must ALL be stopped.

[MyIrishEyes]

Hmmm! Did they move Iowa and Illinois below the Mason Dixon line while no one was looking? Or did you just leave out the states that you didn't want to spew at? -Irish

[mayrose]

There are dog fighting horrors across the country. Illinois has a bill pending to make it a felony to be a spectator at a dogfight. I hope it passes and is made law. Anyone who condones any kind of dogfighting is obscene.
The picture used is misleading. The dogs in the picture are St Bernard puppies playing, not fighting. The dogs seized are pit bulls.