Over 400 pit bulls were seized in a multi-state raid in what officials are calling largest dog fighting crackdown in U.S. history last week.
The raid by tasks forces were conducted across six states by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies after a nine-month investigation. Dogs were seized in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, five men were indicted in Missouri. One arrest was made in Oklahoma and eight men were arrested in Texas.
“The Humane Society of Missouri is vehemently opposed to this heinous blood sport,” said the Humane Society of Missouri in a statement. “The way animals used in dog fighting are abused, at the hands of people for profit, is absolutely abhorrent.”
According to the Justice Department and the Humane Society, the raid resulted in the arrests of 26 men who are facing federal charges. Some of the charged men still own the dogs but may be separated by the court.
Dogfighting is banned throughout the United States and is a felony in all 50 states. In 2007 President George W. Bush signed a law that increased penalties for activities that promote or encourage animal fighting.
“This intervention is a momentous victory in our ongoing battle to end the cruel, criminal dogfighting industry,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. “With each raid we get one step closer to ending this cruel blood sport.”
The dogs are now resting at a temporary shelter in St. Louis. However, animal welfare officials say it may be hard to find the dogs permanent homes.
“The Humane Society of the United States thanks the USDA Office of Inspector General and the Humane Society of Missouri for their commitment to eradicating this nationwide business enterprise that thrives off the pain and suffering of dogs,” said Pacelle.
Animal welfare groups will evaluate the dogs for trauma, aggressiveness, and personality and make recommendations for potential adoption by the Humane Society of Missouri and other rescue groups or individual adopters.
In the U.S. 3.7 million dogs and cats are euthanized in shelters.
According to the Human Society, each year over 250,000 dogs are placed in dogfighting pits. An estimated 40,000 are engaged in organized dogfighting while another 100,000 meet on neighborhood streets and alleyways.
The raid by tasks forces were conducted across six states by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies after a nine-month investigation. Dogs were seized in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, five men were indicted in Missouri. One arrest was made in Oklahoma and eight men were arrested in Texas.
“The Humane Society of Missouri is vehemently opposed to this heinous blood sport,” said the Humane Society of Missouri in a statement. “The way animals used in dog fighting are abused, at the hands of people for profit, is absolutely abhorrent.”
According to the Justice Department and the Humane Society, the raid resulted in the arrests of 26 men who are facing federal charges. Some of the charged men still own the dogs but may be separated by the court.
Dogfighting is banned throughout the United States and is a felony in all 50 states. In 2007 President George W. Bush signed a law that increased penalties for activities that promote or encourage animal fighting.
“This intervention is a momentous victory in our ongoing battle to end the cruel, criminal dogfighting industry,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. “With each raid we get one step closer to ending this cruel blood sport.”
The dogs are now resting at a temporary shelter in St. Louis. However, animal welfare officials say it may be hard to find the dogs permanent homes.
“The Humane Society of the United States thanks the USDA Office of Inspector General and the Humane Society of Missouri for their commitment to eradicating this nationwide business enterprise that thrives off the pain and suffering of dogs,” said Pacelle.
Animal welfare groups will evaluate the dogs for trauma, aggressiveness, and personality and make recommendations for potential adoption by the Humane Society of Missouri and other rescue groups or individual adopters.
In the U.S. 3.7 million dogs and cats are euthanized in shelters.
According to the Human Society, each year over 250,000 dogs are placed in dogfighting pits. An estimated 40,000 are engaged in organized dogfighting while another 100,000 meet on neighborhood streets and alleyways.
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