Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/largest-dogfighting-bust-south-carolina/
While dog fighting has been banned in all U.S. states since 1976, it’s still far too prevalent today.
According to the Humane Society, dogs involved in fighting rings are bred, conditioned, and trained to fight in a pit for money or entertainment. The fight ends when one of the dogs can no longer continue.
Dog fighting is a horrible practice that usually results in the death or grave injury of one or multiple dogs. Thankfully, authorities are starting to crack down on suspected dog fighting operations and are taking it more seriously.
In late September, the Humane Society of the United States worked alongside the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the non-profit organization Bark Nation, and several licensed veterinarians to bust an alleged dog fighting operation – the largest alleged dogfighting operation in South Carolina!
All in all, 275 dogs were rescued from several properties in South Carolina.
According to a video release from HSUS, “Officials served search and seizure warrants on 10 properties around 9 a.m. on Sept. 25. The dogs were found living outdoors in pens or on chains with barrels or other makeshift shelters as their only protection from the elements. Many of the dogs were thin and had no apparent access to food or water, despite the sunny and hot weather.”
Beyond the negligent living conditions, some of the dogs were found with “severe scarring,” in addition to “festering open wounds, lacerations and abscesses.”
Tragically, many of the dogs were in critical condition because of their wounds. Thankfully, help had arrived and rescuers were able to remove them from the property and get them into emergency veterinary care.
After all the animals had been through, it’d be understandable that they wouldn’t be the most friendly or eager for human interaction. While it’s true that some of the dogs “hunched over and peered reluctantly at the responders,” not all the dogs were like that. Some were eager to greet the rescuers with wagging tails and sloppy dog kisses!
Adam Parascandola with HSUS said, “It’s truly distressing to come upon dogs who are severely injured yet chained to trees or left to languish in a pen instead of getting the care they desperately need. Thanks to all the agencies who intervened on behalf of these dogs, this is the last day they’re going to have to live like this.”
Check out the video below:
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Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog
