L.A. County prosecutors to open 24-hour dog-fighting tip line and reward program

By Andrew Blankstein

Los Angeles County prosecutors are teaming up with the Humane Society of the United States to announce what they say is a first-of-its-kind dog-fighting tip line and reward program. [Updated 2:17 p.m.: An earlier version of this post gave an incorrect name for the Humane Society.]

The 24-hour tip line, staffed by people who speak English and Spanish, will allow county residents to anonymously report dog-fighting incidents and collect up to $5,000 in reward money for information leading to an arrest or conviction.
The new tip-line number will be announced Tuesday at the office of L.A. County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley at the downtown Criminal Courts building.

Those who are convicted of illegal dog fighting, a felony under state law, can face a maximum prison sentence of three years, prosecutors said. Watching a fight or helping to prepare for such contests is a misdemeanor that carries a sentence of up to six months in county jail.Dog fighting is widespread in Los Angeles County, according to authorities. In the United States, the American Humane Society estimates that 40,000 people follow organized dog-fighting circuits and more than 250,000 dogs are made to suffer in dog-fighting pits each year.

Largest Dog Fighting Raid and Rescue in U.S. History; Nearly 500

Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task ForceWorks with State and Federal Agencies on Largest Dog Fighting Raid and Rescue in U.S. History; Nearly 500Pit Bulls Seized in Multi-State Operation

Sept 14, 2009: 4 Mo. men plead guilty in dogfighting case

ST. LOUIS — Four Missouri men arrested in a federal dogfighting crackdown in seven states have pleaded guilty in St. Louis to conspiracy and other crimes.

They are among the first convictions resulting from the largest coordinated multistate raids on dogfighting in U.S. history.

On Monday, 50-year-old Teddy Kiriakidis of Leasburg; 38-year-old Michael Morgan of Hannibal; 56-year-old Robert Hackman of Foley; and 34-year-old Ronald Creach of Leslie, appeared before U.S. District Judge Carol Jackson. They admitted their roles in breeding, trafficking, fighting and destroying American pit bull terriers.

In July, federal agents arrested 26 people and seized more than 500 dogs in Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas..." Link

UPDATE- Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Rescue groups nationwide are working with the Humane Society of Missouri to care for the more than 400 dogs rescued in connection with the largest dog fighting raid in U.S. history. The dogs were seized in a multi-state raid by federal and state officers in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi. The fate of the dogs will be decided by the federal courts in forfeiture proceedings separate from the criminal cases.

Several rescue groups that have experience with the breeds of animals rescued have offered their help to care for and eventually receive some of the dogs. Groups involved so far in these efforts include Mutts-n-Stuff, based in Missouri; Our Pack, Broken Hearts, Mended Souls; PBRC.net; Whole Rotta Love; and New Hope Pit Bull Rescue.

We are very grateful that these groups have stepped up to help us care for and eventually give some of them a second chance,” said Debbie Hill, vice president of Operations for the Humane Society of Missouri and incident commander for the emergency temporary shelter. “We hope to place as many of these dogs as possible so we need more groups and individuals like them to contact us offering places for these deserving animals.”

While the groups involved in this situation are working independently, there is talk of forming a Pit Bull Rescue Alliance in a collaborative effort to save more dogs from fighting situations in the future. For now, these groups encourage others to join them in coming forward to take in the placeable dogs from this rescue when they are available.

Groups or individuals interested in receiving some of these animals should immediately contact the Humane Society of Missouri at 314-802-5712.

To read the full story, pictures and video: click here

Dog fighting ring raided in Montgomery County

By Dal Cannady

MOUNT VERNON, GA (WTOC) - Montgomery County authorities have raided what they call a major dog fighting ring.

Sheriff Clarence Sanders said they seized 30 to 35 dogs, which included puppies and grown dogs, they believe were used in the fighting.

He said they'd arrested one man in connection with the raid, which he said took place in nearby Higgston. In addition, he said, a second arrest is pending.

Sheriff Sanders said they'd received tips from the Georgia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Atlanta Humane Society..." Link

29 Dogs Seized From Suspected Dog Fighting Operation Need Homes

SUWANEE, Ga. -- Twenty-nine dogs that were seized in a raid involving suspected dog fighting and drug trafficking have formally been turned over to the Georgia SPCA.

Officials said the dogs' owner Antonio Monds, 32, had been under surveillance for six months for suspected dog fighting operation, gambling and drugs. Law enforcement, NORRED investigators and GA SPCA emergency response team seized the dogs from the Talbot County property on Wednesday and moved them to an undisclosed location in a nearby county.

Monds surrendered ownership of the dogs to the Talbot County Sheriff’s Department on Thursday. The Talbot County Sheriff’s Department is not equipped to care for animals that are seized so they have now turned over custody of the dogs to the Georgia SPCA. Georgia SPCA director, Joan Sammond said that the dogs are currently undergoing a more thorough evaluation for health and temperament and will be ready to go into rescue as early as next week. At that time the dogs will be fostered with rescue and adopted out as each agency sees fit.

"We will be taking several of the dogs into our Suwanee adoption facility. The rest of the dogs we need to find eligible rescue and humane organizations to take because our facility does not have the space for this many dogs. We have been contacted by Mariah’s Promise, a Pit bull rescue in Colorado but they are not sure how many of the dogs they would be able to help out with," Sammond said..." More

Seized Dogs May Face Death

Dogfighters get creative as spotlight on Vick case fades

By Ashley Fantz, CNN

When pro quarterback Michael Vick pleaded guilty to bankrolling a dogfighting operation in 2007, there was a spike in reports of dogfighting in the United States.

One of six dogs recovered from a Sumter County, South Carolina, dogfight waits in a kennel last week.

But when the headlines faded, the blood sport grew stronger and went even more underground, with thugs taking inventive precautions to keep police at bay, animal cruelty experts say.

"They know it's just not smart to have large crowds anymore, so we've seen fights where you've got the two handlers, a referee and Web cams everywhere broadcasting the fight on the Internet," said Mark Kumpf, an investigator based in Ohio who directs the National Animal Control Association.

Fights are also being staged on the move -- in 18-wheelers. "These guys are very sophisticated," Kumpf said. "If you're driving down the road, there could be dogs in that truck driving next to you that are dying.".." More

Nearly 100 Animals Seized In Dogfighting Raid

PAOLI, Ind. -- Authorities have seized nearly 100 dogs during raids at two southern Indiana sites suspected of breeding and training the animals for illegal fighting.

Indiana State Police said dog carcasses and dogfighting paraphernalia were also seized when the Indiana Gaming Commission and other agencies executed search warrants Tuesday in Orange County.

Adam Parascandola, of the Humane Society of the United States, said many of the dogs had scars and marks consistent with fighting.

Dogs were found attached by 6-foot chains to trees, with only barrels for shelter. They were drinking rain out of tires infested with mosquitoes.

"They're scattered through this 15 acres of woods, and you can tell that they don't get food or water routinely," said Larry Rollins, of the Indiana Gaming Commission. "They have these heavy, long chains that are wrapped directly around the dogs' necks, and they're digging in."..." More

So. Louisville woman charged with neglect of over 40 pets

An ongoing investigation of animal neglect has led authorities to a disturbing discovery. Five dozen animals were living in a south Louisville home with a woman and a young child.

Authorities say they received several calls from concerned people about what was happening in this house. Neighbors told us, off camera, they guessed anywhere from 40 to 50 animals had to be living at a home off of S. 5th Street.

As it turns out 60 animals -- 56 cats and 4 dogs were confiscated Friday night from Launa Calvert's home. They were taken to Metro Animal Services. Only the dogs and 12 of the cats were healthy enough to survive.

"She signed over a large amount of cats and they were humanely euthanized because they were very sick and in very very very poor health,” said Metro Animal Services Director Jackie Gulbe..." More

Homes tough to find for dogs seized in raids

By CHERYL WITTENAUER

ST. LOUIS – As teams begin evaluating hundreds of pit bulls seized in the largest U.S. raid on dogfighters, the Humane Society of Missourihas issued an urgent call to rescue groups to help find homes for the dogs deemed eligible for adoption.

On Friday, teams of animal behavior experts from across the nation are set to begin assessing more than 400 dogs seized from alleged dogfighting operations in Missouri and Illinois earlier this month. About 100 more pit bulls taken from operations in Iowa, Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Nebraska also will have to be evaluated.

So far, the humane society has heard from just over a dozen rescue groups willing to find homes for one or two dogs, but said more are needed. Animal groups say they haven't had a crisis response of this magnitude since thousands of pets were dislocated in Hurricane Katrina.

"We're going to need a whole lot of new friends to help the animals in this case," said Debbie Hill, the Humane Society of Missouri's vice president. "There are so many more in this unprecedented raid."

The pit bulls' seizure comes as U.S. shelters are inundated with abandoned dogs and cats, 3.7 million of which are euthanized each year because they can't find homes..."  More

Raid Uncovers Dogfighting in Eight States

By: LISA ACHO REMORENKO

U.S. attorneys in four of the states announced indictments accusing the 26 suspects of animal cruelty ranging from denying animals medical treatment to shooting dogs in the head when they didn’t fight well. Depending on the state where the cruelty took place, the suspects can get anywhere from 18 months to 10 years in jail.

Laura Maloney oversees the ASPCA’s Humane Law Enforcement department, Government Affairs, and Veterinary Forensics, including the ASPCA’s Mobile Animal CSI Unit. She is no stranger to dogfighting investigations as she is also the senior vice president of the ASPCA’s anti-cruelty division. Recently, I spoke with Laura Maloney to get more information about the sting operation.

To begin, Maloney wanted to give kudos to the Humane Society of Missouri. She said the Humane Society had been conducting undercover investigative work on this dogfighting operation for the last 18 months. They were the principal organization that coordinated the simultaneous dogfighting raid last week. The Humane Society of Missouri called on the ASPCA to aid in accumulating forensic evidence and to help evaluate the seized dogs. The ASPCA were also the ones who conducted behavior evaluations on the fighting dogs in Michael Vick’s case.

While Michael Vick brought dog fighting into the public scrutiny with his arrest and subsequent prosecution, dogfighting in American is far from eradicated. Last week, officers from multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies made 26 arrests and seized more than 400 dogs in Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, in what is being considered the largest simultaneous raid of multiple dogfighting operations in the United States.

Five charged, more than 150 dogs seized in massive dog fighting raid

KSDK -- Five area men stand accused of running a massive dog fighting ring.

More than 150 Pit Bull Terriers were seized by officers from multiple federal and state law enforcement agencies in an early morning raid on several locations in the St. Louis area.A history-making operation.

The U.S Attorney filed motions seeking to take legal ownership of the dogs and place the animals in the care of the Humane Society of Missouri. The U.S. Attorney wants the defendants to reimburse the Humane Society for all costs to care for the dogs.

The Humane Society calls this probably the largest dog fighting raid in U.S. history. All pit bulls seized in Missouri and Illinois will be taken to a secure facility where the Humane Society can treat them. This is the largest sheltering operation in the history of Missouri Humane Society.
As for the future of the dogs, the Humane Society will make recommendations about each animal to the U.S. District Court which will make the final decision for each animal.

The indictment...More