More than 150 dogs rescued from dogfighting operation in South Carolina
The ASPCA, who assisted state authorities in the huge rescue operation, warn that the illegal act of dogfighting still occurs all over the country.
An ASPCA staff member comforts a dog during the rescue. Credit: ASPCA
More than 150 dogs have been rescued from a suspected dogfighting operation in South Carolina.
The huge rescue mission, which saw dogs removed from 10 locations across Dillon and Marion counties, was conducted last week as part of a collaboration between the ASPCA and officials from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
Rescuers reported that many of the dogs were found with untreated injuries and had scarring consistent with dogfighting.
The rescued animals have been transferred to an ASPCA facility where they are now receiving critical care.
Credit: ASPCA
The high number of dogs involved in the rescue operation highlights the scope and scale of dogfighting rings in the US.
"Despite being a felony nationwide, the horrific act of dogfighting still occurs all over the country, and the ASPCA is dedicated to putting an end to this cruel suffering that impacts thousands of vulnerable animals at any given moment," said Matt Bershadker, CEO of ASPCA.
It is estimated that there are tens of thousands of individuals forcing hundreds of thousands of dogs to train, fight, and suffer every year.
According to the ASPCA, the latest rescue in South Carolina is just one of seven suspected dogfighting cases which the organization has assisted law enforcement with in the past year alone.
Other recent cases include a suspected dogfighting ring in Pinellas County, Florida, that resulted in the rescue of more than 100 dogs last year.
Just last month the ASPCA helped to rescue a dozen dogs, including puppies, which were removed from a suspected dogfighting property in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
Dogs at the facility were kept on chains tied to barrels. Credit: ASPCA
The organization, which describes itself as a leading expert in dogfighting investigation and response, helps assist government authorities by providing forensic, investigative and legal help with dogfighting-related cases.
To help tackle the prevalence of dogfighting in the US, the ASPCA also promotes educational resources that help both authorities and members of the public to spot signs of dogfighting.
A rescue dog being comforted by ASPCA staff. Credit: ASPCA
These indicators can help people report any suspected dogfighting activity to local authorities. The ASPCA says that some of the most common signs include:
Pit bull-mix-type dogs with multiple scares, possibly with lips or ears ripped off.
Dogs on heavy chains, tethered to a tire axle or dog house/barrel.
Dogs chained inches apart from one another.
Under federal law, it is illegal to possess, train, transport, deliver, sell, purchase, or receive dogs for fighting purposes. The crime can carry hefty sentences.
A recent high-profile case last year saw former Pentagon official Frederick Douglass Moorfield Jr. plead guilty for leading a dogfighting network in Maryland for over 20 years. Moorefield was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and ordered to pay a $20,000 fine.
Read more: Ex-NFL player charged with running unprecedented dog fighting operation.
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