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 A dog stands chained at a site in East St. Louis, Ill., where the Humane Society seized 15 to 18 dogs July 8. Members of the U.S. Department of Agriculture office of the inspector general, the Illinois State Police, the Humane Society of Missouri and the Humane Society of the United States were on scene. (Emily Rasinski ~ St. Louis Post-Dispatch) [Click to enlarge] |
Her lip had been ripped at one point during her life and stitched back together, and there was a tear in her left ear. Old and new lacerations running over her head and neck forged a latticework of shiny scars, and some of her teeth were cracked and broken. The cartilage across the bridge of her snout was also ruptured, an injury that could have occurred when another dog crushed her face in its jaws.
"A dog does not get to looking like this in a day," said local pit bull rescuer Melanie Coy.
"This is hard-core fighting."
Less than three months ago, about 450 pit bulls were seized by operatives in multistate dogfighting raids, and the 2007 conviction of NFL quarterback Michael Vick for running a dogfighting ring cast a national spotlight on the crime.
 Animal rescuers seize dogs July 8 at a site in East St. Louis, Ill. [Click to enlarge] |
"This is something that happens every weekend in the state of Missouri," said Kyle Held, animal cruelty investigator for the Humane Society of Missouri.
Held said members of the Humane Society have testified before legisalators and are always asked whether they're seeing more dogfighting incidents since widely publicized incidents like the one involving Vick.
"It's always happened. I don't think it's happening any less because of it," Held said.
In October 2007, a raid on a farm in Stoddard County led to the conviction of two men on charges related to dogfighting. A third was arrested but later acquitted by a jury.
Even in Cape Girardeau city limits, police have dealt with dogfighting incidents in the past, police spokesman Cpl. Adam Glueck said.
In some of the rural counties to the south, like Pemiscot, law enforcement and animal rights activists have forged an alliance dedicated to eradicating dogfighting and the serious crime and animal abuse that accompany it, said Karol Wilcox, president of the Caruthersville Humane Society.
Coy said law enforcement in Southeast Missouri is beginning to take more of an interest in cracking down on dogfighting, but these are often some of the toughest crimes to investigate and can be even more difficult to prove in court.
Best-kept secret
"The best-kept secret in the criminal world is when they fight. There's a lot of fear involved," Coy said.
Though investigators will often spend months working cases based on tips they receive, unless they are able to pinpoint a specific time and place of a fight, the real challenge for law enforcement lies in securing enough evidence for an arrest.
"The hard thing is to catch them in the act," Held said.
Though police frequently rely on confidential informants to make arrests in drug cases and other types of crimes, there is a vow of silence the dogfighting world, making it next to impossible to infiltrate.
Most "hard-core hard-core" dogfighters take part with the intention of staying in it for life or until they go to prison, Held said.
"They'd give up their own mother or brother, but they won't give up the location of a dogfight," said Beverly Alexander, police chief in Wardell, Mo.
Fights are often organized online in private chat rooms, and most of the conversation takes place in code. Websites where dog food, first aid supplies and collars are sold are a common avenue for those interested in staging a fight to make connections with one another, also in code, Held said.
The dogfights that receive the most media attention are those that involve a handful of spectators, wagers of thousands of dollars and take place in a pit of some kind, but "street" dogfighting is also common, especially in more urban areas, Held said.
"Fights can be three crack rocks in the backyard. It's the pride of saying 'I have the meanest dog,'" said Caruthersville police chief Chris Riggs.
Wilcox said what animal rights activists typically see is the aftermath. Earlier in the summer, her Humane Society rescued six that had been dumped at a location in Hayti Heights, Mo. The dogs' injuries leave no doubt in the minds of animal care specialists and law enforcement that they were used for fighting, but without any solid link to an individual or a specific fight, nothing can be done.
"The difference is that animals can't speak for themselves. It's hard to put a case together," Riggs said.
Though federal and state laws prohibit dogfighting, investigating nearly always leads to the discovery of other crimes, according to members of law enforcement.
Alexander said she's seen child abuse and domestic assault crimes frequently linked to dogfighting cases.
Though Held said participants in dogfighting run the gamut from ex-convicts to schoolteachers to professional athletes like Vick to white-collar professionals, drugs, prescription narcotics are commonly associated with dogfighting, some of the illegal drugs even used to treat injured dogs.
According to the U.S. Humane Society, illegal possession of drugs and firearms are both commonly linked to dogfighting, likely attributed to the large sums of money being passed around, and even homicides have been connected with fights.
Cowgirl's story has a happy ending. Her face is healing and her skin has improved with a better diet, and though her former owner tried to get her back, she is now settled with Coy, who described the sweet-tempered female pit as "truly the most special dog I've had a privilege to spend time with."
Wilcox said she frequently has owners whose fighting dogs have been picked up try to get them back, either through attempting to adopt them back or even trying to break into the Humane Society and steal them.
With rehabilitation, some pit bulls that have been used for fighting can become pets for the "right person," someone with an understanding of the breed and the time to put work into the dog's training, Held said.
Still, many of the fighting dogs that are rescued eventually have to be destroyed because their treatment has made them too aggressive toward other animals, Wilcox said.
"We cry a lot," she said. "We try to hold them a week just so they know someone cares about them."
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These stories just break my heart. My thoughts and prayers go to the people that have to deal with these neglected dogs on a day to day basis. Unfortunately most do not have a promising future. I'm on the fence about how much our law enforcement should be tied into these crimes but as stated many times drugs, violence and child neglect are involved. I urge anyone who knows about or hears about these type of activites to call your local law enforcement. This is one instance we can help as a community.
the southeast missourian needs to look into a report i heard of the the other nite that said they got someone for animal neglect that was suppose to have it all over the internet about how many dog fights this dog had won
Wow! Cowgirl a fighting dog? Not even close. I personally know Cowgirl, her breeder and owners, and know for a fact Cowgirl was never, ever fought. Cowgirl isn't even a true pitbull, she's an American Standard Bulldog, Razor's Edge bloodline. Anyone who knows anything about that bloodline knows they aren't fighting dogs. To top it off, I know how she got the majority of scars, and it did indeed happen at one time. About 6 weeks ago to be right one the money, and there are vet bills (what fighters will take their dog to a vet and keep reciepts?)to prove it. Not too mention the "investigation" into the alleged fighting didn't turn up anything. I wonder why?
To even make things more interesting, I owned Cowgirl's littermate sister, they are 4 years old, not 2. I currently own a male pup from Cowgirl's latest litter, who happened to be 2 weeks old at the time she was attacked by two, not one, but two other dogs. People need to get their stories straight , newspapers need to look into those writing them, before printing them.
Btw, how many fighting dogs are going to let complete strangers pick them up? Cowgirl isn't aggresive, she isn't a fighting dog, and she isn't even a pit bull. She didn't attempt to fight any dog while being held illegally at the Humane Society. How does that work?
The breeder, the owner's and myself, none of us condone fighting dogs. We will not stand for it. We will not let a dog go to someone who might fight the dog. We love our pets, our dogs, whom we consider family, and raise them, treat them as such. This story is far from over, and hopefully Cowgirl will find her way back home.
While I find it horrible that someone uses dogs to fight other dogs, I am more apalled at the people who are the spectators at these events. They aren't advertised events so how does the word get around-maybe through the low-life underground? I can just hear that phone call, "Hey this is Low-life, I'm putting on a dog fight, tell all your low-life, ignorant, cruel, God hating, lying, theiving buddies." Pathetic.
It makes me want to throw up when I read stories about this issue. I want to know what kind of sick mind would enjoy watching such a thing??? I feel the punishment to not only the ones running it but those attending when caught should be the most severe laws allow. I think every person attending should be publically listed so their employers, neighbors, etc all know!!! Take away the people coming to these things and they won't hold them. They are doing it for the money. What else will these type of sick twisted monsters do?
I was quite sure that the supply of low-life morons had not been exhausted, but it was nice to read an article confirming that they were common.
These folks should be staked out on anthills with honey poured over them.
Sad, so sad.......
I do not condone dog or any other form of animal fighting. Some of you though take this a little overboard. There are child molesters, rapists, murderers and other horrindous people out there and you people are crying over dog fighting. lets worry about some real issues.
In response to mrray13's comment on this topic, I have to say that it is sad that you would jump out there and defend this/these person(s) whom had custody of the dog before it was taken to the shelter!
I have seen the dog firsthand and would like to inform the readers that these injuries did very obviously NOT happen to this dog at the same time. How can you explain all the scarring along with current stitches and injuries that the dog had? And did you know that the Vet records indicated that the stitches were supposed to be removed about 2 weeks after being put in the dog's lip? But yet were still in the dog over a month later when taken to the shelter? This information was given directly from the Vet! So again, how well was the dog being taken care of?
Congrats to the shelter for getting involved enough to look into this and to those who cared enough about the dog to NOT return it to this home.
And mrray13, you are absolutely correct when you stated that this isn't over! There is still investigation underway regarding the person(s) who claimed to have owned the dog, and the other people who claimed to have owned it also!
Isn't it illegal to begin with to breed without a permit or license for breeding??? Hmmmm......
And in response to E.A.'s comment....you are also correct that sometimes this is taken overboard. I respect and totally agree with your statement. However, it is my understanding that this particular dog was found wandering loose in a neighborhood where many, many young children live. So I think that it is a GREAT concern and that the community be worried just as much about a topic such as this. A dog that has been used in such activities is just as much of a danger to children as molestors and murderers.
Just Interested...
You need to check your facts. I have seen the vet bill and records with my own eyes. You sound a lot like an "advocate" playing at a blogger...
I'd love to ask the "advocate" how it feels to be a dog thief.
Especially since not ONE but TWO officers police reports have blatently stated that this dog was NOT used in fighting in any way shape or form.
Guess you know more than the police, as well.
There was NO theft of a dog. The dog was running loose and was taken to the Humane Society. The person you are referring to as the "owner" contacted the humane society and said he was the owner. Then he told them that he was NOT the owner. He told them that another person was the owner, THAT person was then contacted and he said that he had given the dog away to a friend, and that the friend had then given it to this person in question. But he admitted he did not own the dog.
So with all the lying going on, why would anyone believe that they are telling the truth about anything?? I don't have to know more than the police, it's obvious that the truth wasn't coming out of these "owners" own mouths.
Just interested,
Cowgirl was never a fighting dog,ever. And I know for a fact her latest stitches were removed when they were supposed to be. Could someone have missed some? Sure, the people who removed them are human. I had over 300 stitches in my fingers after an accident, the doctor informed me that I would be finding stitches for awhile, even after he removed the majority. I did indeed remove several months afterward, does that mean the doctor mistreated me?
As to any investigation, there isn't any ongoing in Illinois, or Alexander County. I know the Deputy(s) who investigated this, and actually work with them as I'm a police officer myself, and know the investigation is closed. Any fighting claim is completely unfounded.
As to Cowgirl looking better in the "rescuer's" hands, well gee, she just got over getting whooped by two dogs, giving birth to 8 pups IIRC, and it had been several weeks. Of course she's going to look better. It had nothing to do with removing the dog from the last owner.
As to the owner controversy. The person the dog was taken from is indeed the latest owner. He stated the dog was owned by someone else due tot he fact that person was the person in who's name the vet's bill was in. He thought that would get the dog released, as the woman at the shelter kept lying to him and stating that that person needed to come in.
As to the young children comment, Cowgirl did indeed approach a few kids. Those kids got to pet and love on a very sweet dog, the parent of those kids knew the dog and knew her to be safe. That is my understanding of the string of events that led to anotehr set of complete strangers to the dog picking her up and taking her to the shelter. If Cowgirl is so mean and aggresive, how did complete strangers pick her up? If she is a fighting dog, why did she not attack any other dogs at the shelter? Simple. She isn't aggressive and she isn't a fighting dog.
And as far a a license needed to breed. It is my understanding that one is not needed until a kennel has a certain number of breedable females, and if they are in the sole business of breeding. I will research this more to be absolutely sure, but I can tell you this, there is no statue in the Illinois Criminal and Traffic Law Manual sitting by my side stating one has to have a license.
Lastly to address the other scarring. The majority did indeed happen just over a month ago. The other scarring can be accounted for in her growing up, and like humans, I'm sure Cowgirl had an arguement or two with prospective suitors. That does not mean she was fought, and she was always cared for.
Just Interested, I honestly don't know who you are getting your info from, but it's wrong. And yeah, I believe Cowgirl is being held illegally, and she needs to be returned to her current owner. No, this is far from over Just Interested, and speaking of illegal, Missouri has zero jurisdiction in this case, yet that's where the dog is. Alexander County investigated and deemed no further action was needed. ACSD did not place a hold on the dog for any reason, yet the Humane Society took it upon themselves to hold the dog. Under what authority? The Village of East Cape did not place a hold on the dog, yet the Humane Society deemed it necessary too. Under what authority? After the investigation found no proof of illegal activity, no wrong doing done to the dog, nothing found at all save the dog got loose, yet the Southeast Missouri Humane Society saw fit to step in and "save" a dog that didn't need saved. Nope, it isn't over, and I'd hate to be the Humane Society when it is.
I do not condone dog or any other form of animal fighting. Some of you though take this a little overboard. There are child molesters, rapists, murderers and other horrindous people out there and you people are crying over dog fighting. lets worry about some real issues.
-- Posted by E.A. on Mon, Aug 31, 2009, at 10:16 AM
Comments like this make me absolutely furious. Yes, there are other problems in the world besides dog fighting. Does that make dog fighting any less horrible? Of course not! If we all turned a blind eye to one problem just because there was another problem out there that some might consider worse, nothing would ever get any better. If someone was talking about cracking down on illegal drug use, would you say they were going overboard, because there were child molesters and rapists and murders out there to worry about instead? I'll tell you the real reason you say people are going overboard: you may not condone dogfighting, but you apparently don't MIND it at all. Yes, I am crying over dogfighting. Because it IS a real issue. And as far as I'm concerned, YOU are a real idiot.
Just Interested---
When you are an "advocate" and you create a false record to show what you want---even going so far as to state what a sweet temperment a dog has and how much you'd like to have it---and then magically that dog ends up going home with you when there is NO, absolutely NO foundational reason and no police authority to back it and totally improper jurisdiction...
that is indeed theft of personal property.
Lying to get what you want is wrong.
Or are you the kinda person who thinks it's ok to get what you want through any means necessary?