Arrests Show Dog Fighting Surprisingly Widespread

by Steve Dale

Michael Vick's arrest for fighting dogs shocked America. Unfortunately, two recent dog-fighting busts are arguably more shocking, though they haven't received the same national press.

Over 300 dogs were confiscated in the biggest dog-fighting bust ever, encompassing eight states. Considered a dog-fighting ring, it took federal, state and local officials to arrest about 30 people recently on various charges in Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Typical of premises where dog fighting has been going on, many of the animals were so mutilated, euthanization was the most humane option.

"It's shocking how dog fighting is everywhere," says Ledy Van Kavage, senior legislative analyst at Best Friends Animal Society, Konab, UT, where some of the Vick dogs remain housed. "It occurs in even the most unsuspecting places."

Perhaps no place could be more unsuspected for dog fighting than a day care center for children. That's where the Cook County Sheriff's office made three arrests Sept. 23 in Maywood, Ill., a Chicago suburb. Nine dogs were confiscated, including a puppy missing an eye and a dog with a leg twisted backward so badly that amputation is likely the only solution.

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart says he's "unsure" whether the kids at the in-home day care center witnessed dogs actually fighting or being trained for fighting.

"We know they saw dog-training equipment," he said (in a phone interview I conducted on my WLS Radio show following the raid). "There's a pole that looks like a telephone pole with spikes in it that they chain dogs to or use for training, and that was by the swing set in the yard.

"I think people now understand how horrible dog fighting is, not only for the animals, but also for the community," adds Dart. "When I began in the (Illinois) legislature over 10 years ago, and I spoke about animal protection laws and dog fighting, people thought I had five heads. Today, they get it, that there's a link; people who harm animals are more likely to harm other people. I just don't know that people are aware of the enormity of the problem, spanning the entire country. Very few places are immune."

Of course, it's shocking that a dog-fighting ring could be so organized to encompass eight states. "Well, there's a lot of very big money involved," Van Kavage explains.

Perhaps, even more shocking is the relatively small-time operator allegedly conducting dog training and fighting from the day care center. On at least one occasion, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) responded to a complaint about the dogs. However, no report was made to authorities and the facility continued to operate undeterred. Dart says a mandated cross-reporting law, recently passed in Illinois, will prevent DCFS from ever looking the other way again.

"It's just like doctors have to report suspected child abuse. Now, in Illinois, DCFS will have to report suspected animal abuse," he notes.

Van Kavage says several states have similar cross-reporting mandates. But all states can benefit from similar measures. Perhaps, what's most deplorable is that it's possible, if not likely, that children at the day care center witnessed the training and/or fighting of these dogs. "It's shocking how often children are exposed (to dog fighting)," says Dart. "Imagine the horrors these children are witnessing."

Gang members and other bad guys seem to understand that desensitized to violence when they're young, kids are more likely to do as they're told, committing violent crimes against people.

Van Kavage says that a few states (including Illinois) may add harsher penalties for dog fighters who expose children to the crime. However, she says, all states need to do this. Van Kavage may also promote a first-ever state law to add an additional felony for fighting dogs within 500 yards of a school zone or day care.

"There's only one crime worse than the morally reprehensible crime of fighting dogs, and that's involving kids," Van Kavage says.

Bottom line, residents of communities where dog fighting occurs must fight back by reporting the locations to authorities, says Dart.

"A part of the problem is fear of retribution, intimidation, and culturally accepting dog fighting. This has to change. I'd like to think it's begun to change," he comments.

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