Authorities bust dogfighting ring

DUDLEY, Mo. -- A joint operation was conducted by the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department, the SEMO Drug Task Force, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Humane Society of Missouri (St. Louis) on Saturday and put three people behind bars on suspicion of operating an illegal dogfighting ring.

Police arrested Jamie Sifford, 29, of Stoddard County, Jessey Short, 30, of Cape Girardeau, and Curtis Pickering, 28, of South Fulton, Tenn. The three are being held in the Stoddard County Jail pending court proceedings.

Working on a tip received last week, sheriff's deputies and seven workers from the St. Louis Humane Society Animal Rescue Team raided a home on County Road 481 northeast of Dudley off Route WW.

According to a Humane Society worker who asked to remain anonymous, a mountain of evidence containing many items used only for dogfighting was found on the premises.

More than 20 pit bulls of various ages were rescued from the property. Many were bandaged and injured when they were discovered in the woods north of the property where the fighting ring was located. The dogs were taken to the Humane Society headquarters in St. Louis.