I will never get over the sight of dogs weighed down by heavy metal chains on bare, cold ground. That’s what so often sticks with me whenever our Animal Rescue Team helps save dogs from alleged dogfighting operations.
This year, Humane World for Animals has helped save nearly 200 dogs from suspected dogfighting busts across a dozen different sites spanning three U.S. states. This time, more than 80 dogs and puppies are now safe after an emotional rescue in Florida last week.
To help with the busts, our Animal Rescue Team arrived at three different properties at the request of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Union County Sheriff’s Office, which served search and seizure warrants early in the morning on Wednesday.
Our responders saw two young puppies whimpering in an outdoor hutch, with no mother in sight. They saw a dog missing a foot after what appeared to be a traumatic amputation consistent with injuries from a dog fight. They saw dogs stepping in their feces in filthy outdoor hutches and pens. Many of the dogs were tethered by those haunting heavy chains, having only plastic barrels or makeshift structures as shelter.
Kevin Wolf/AP Images for Humane World for Animals
As the team got closer, they saw the heartbreaking signs of abuse. Covered in sores, wounds or scars, many of the dogs were also underweight. Rescuers found dogfighting paraphernalia on each of the properties, including treadmills and conditioning and breeding equipment.
The dogs had been languishing in their makeshift shelters, but as soon as they were shown care and warmth, they eagerly received loving attention.
Meredith Lee/Humane World for Animals
Animal fighting hurts everyone involved. These spectacles of cruelty damage communities because they often co-occur with other crimes related to weapons and even human trafficking. In this case, on the day of seizure, law enforcement announced one of the individuals involved was arrested on drug charges and for illegally possessing a firearm.
Children are sometimes brought along to these events. They witness dogs who have been bred, conditioned and forced to fight face each other in a pit. It is a glorification of violence that can last hours, coming to an end when one of the dogs is too injured to continue. Dogs used in these events often die of dehydration, infection, blood loss, exhaustion or shock, hours or even days after the fight.
Dogfighting is a felony in all 50 states, and these recent busts are a sign of inspiring progress; communities are cracking down on eradicating this cruelty once and for all.
Meredith Lee/Humane World for Animals
Caring for these animals after the trauma they’ve been through takes a village. We’re grateful to work with Furry Friends Humane, which transported the dogs to a safe, confidential location, where our team is providing much-needed care and treatment. Volunteers from RedRover Responders are also assisting with daily care.
This is what tackling the root causes of animal cruelty and suffering looks like. And it is such a comfort to know that these dogs and puppies are finally on their way to experiencing the loving lives they deserve.
Kitty Block is president and CEO of Humane World for Animals. Follow Kitty Block.
