Scumbags

On Wednesday, authorities in 8 states across the US -- seized more than 400 dogs and charged 26 people on charges of animal cruelty and dog fighting.

State and federal agents are charging individuals in Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas -- following a year-long investigation that was instigated by the Humane Society of Missouri.

The raid is said to be the largest coordinated bust in US history.  The magnitude of this is huge on so many levels.

On one, obvious level, there are the dogs. Over 400 of them. The idea that people would subject dogs to the horrific things that encompass dog fighting is sickening. It is one of the things that really makes you realize that there is evil in the world. If these people who were arrested are guilty, I hope they get the severe punishment that comes with the crime. We need to end the this brutality, and the people who participate in it.  People who participate in dogfighting are scumbags.

 Until 2 years ago, "common knowledge" would have said that all 400 of these dogs would be systematically euthanized.  At least now, it sounds like there is some hope for the dogs to get a fair evaluation.

Jordan Crump, a spokesperson for The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), said each dog will be assessed by behavioral experts in hopes of placing as many as possible in adoptive homes. This approach is in line with the treatment of the dogs that were rescued from Michael Vick's Bad Newz Kennels in the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback's dogfighting case. The majority of the Vick dogs are now living with individuals and families around the country.

While that paragraph is music to my ears -- and the fact that they will be given a chance is why all of the work that groups like Best Friends and Bad Rap and others did with the Vick dogs was worth it. Because now there is a chance, even if it is hard to hear it be attributed to someone from HSUS -- an organization that pushed for the Vick dogs to all be killed without evaluation.  HSUS -- who's leader, even now, even in spite of the organizations "changed philosphy", sounds like he is predetermining outcomes for the dogs.

"It's just unclear what will happen," said Wayne Pacelle, head of the Humane Society of the United States. "I think it's pretty certain that a lot of those dogs will not pass a behavioral test."

Yip, that's the leader of the world's wealthiest animal welfare organization predertermining a negative outcome for the dogs.  Hopefully HSUS is not put in charge of the evaluations.

I don't know how many of these dogs will pass their evaluations and be given a new chance at life. I don't know where they'll all go if they all do pass their evaluations, but I am in favor of giving as many of the victims a chance as possible at a new life.   When/if many of these dogs are deemed ok, for rehabilitiation (or to go to adopt without the need for rehabilitation), HSUS, with it's vast resources and fundraising expertise (HSUS spent $27 million in fundraising efforts last year, and has already begun using these busts for fundraising), can help fund the rescue of these dogs.  HSUS has the resources that they could easily provide the resources (financial or otherwise) to help in the adoptions of these canine victims if they choose to do so.

Let's prosecute those responsible. Let's evaluate the victims.  And let's figure out the next steps from there.  Let's not doom them to death until the appropriate evaluations are taken, Wayne.

Meanwhile, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the other side of this coin. While it is great that the busts happened and the dogs were rescued from their horrible circumstances, articles are now popping up talking about how "widespread" dog fighting is.

This will no doubt cause some cities to look at things like breed bans to "stop the dogfighters" because they are "underground" and "hard to catch".

Of course they're underground. They're breaking the law. People don't usually break the law (at least major ones) in the wide-open public. More laws will not stop them from breaking the laws they're already breaking. Those laws only end up negatively impacting the literally hundreds of thousands of pit bull owners around the country who are trying to do right by the breed. We're giving them good lives. Training them. Loving them. Treating them like family. When people look at a situation like this, and say, we need to pass a breed specific law to stop it, they are only hurting the people who are on their side...and who are also trying to make it right.  And there are hundreds of thousands more "good guys" in this than bad guys.

The way to end the dog fighting madness is to do what appears to be done in this case -- is make it a priority to stop. For decades, while people have known that it goes on, authorities haven't really prioritized stopping it because it was seen as a "victimless" crime.  But people now, finally realize there are victims. And it's time to put an end to it by making stopping the crime a priority.  It's time to crack down on the scumbags....and leave the people who are trying to do right by the dogs alone.

(Photo attributed to the AP).

Update:

 For more commentary on this, check out:

Pet Connection:  Why Fight Busts are No Longer Enough.

Winograd: HSUS: Abused Dogs Should Face "Pretty Certain" Death

CBS News: Inside America's Biggest Dog Fight Bust (has probably the best video and photos (nothing graphic) I've seen on this thus far).

Comments

[EmilyS]

Do you have any experience with the folks at Missouri Humane (not affiliated with HSUS)? My sources give them a thumbs up for their past work.. but I'm concerned, giving Wayne's need to get his pound of pitbull flesh, that they might allow him to influence them too much.

[Marthina McClay]

KC says,
"Meanwhile, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the other side of this coin. While it is great that the busts happened and the dogs were rescued from their horrible circumstances, articles are now popping up talking about how "widespread" dog fighting is."

Amen brotha! ....and let's keep putting the dogs into therapy and other activities over and over and brag, brag, brag!
http://packrescue.blogspot.com/2009/07/surviving-cancer-gettng-through-muck.html#links
Marthina
Our Pack

[Marthina McClay]

Oops I meant to copy this quote not the other. Not sure how that happened.

"Let's prosecute those responsible. Let's evaluate the victims. And let's figure out the next steps from there. Let's not doom them to death until the appropriate evaluations are taken, Wayne."

[Sue Cosby]

Hey do you know what role HSUS played in this? From what I had heard (and it shows in the picture) the ASPCA took the lead with HSMO. Just curious. Haven't had time to research this one.

[Lisa]

Pacelle pretty much admits that the HSUS not up to the job, and history backs that up. He doesn't even want to try.

What does Best Friends say? What does BAD RAP say? I doubt you'd hear anyone there making doom and gloom self-fulfilling prophesies about killing dogs.

If HSUS isn't up to it, they should turn over any funds they raise to someone who has the skills and experience to do it.

[Brent Toellner]

Sue -- I'm not sure. Wayne is of course taking full credit on this one -- but it is pretty unclear at this point. ASPCA definitely involved. HS of MO is definitely involved. Not sure on HSUS.

Emily, I haven't dealt a lot with HS of Missouri. My overall impression is that they do pretty good work (although some have criticized them for being a little "overzealous" at times - especially with the puppy mill issues), but I do think they will try to do right by the dogs. They seem to be pretty consistent on this one...

[bg]

The Humane Society of Missouri, has no affilation with HSUS. Don't worry, they (HSMO) are quite aware of HSUS's stance on pit bulls. HSMO has worked with BAD RAP in the past on other dog fights busts in MO. I trust HSMO to keep HSUS out of the loop on this one , as I have worked with HSMO many times.

[AK]

Were the organizations involved with the Vick dogs invited to participate this time? I suspect not. Perhaps I had a miscommunication (I'm trying to be diplomatic) but when I emailed BF yesterday about the siezed dogs, it was news to them. That's just ridiculous. I hope the HSUS has nothing to do with evaluating these dogs and I hope that the same groups and individuals who participated in evaluating the Vick dogs are allowed to do so this time. Did we not learn from before? HSUS go home. Let people who are trying to save these dogs do the work and make recommendations to the court.

[Nichole]

This is great news. I'm really excited that I heard about it first from ASPCA, and it's annoying that HSUS has swooped in and tried to claim the glory.

I got in a bit of a twitter war with the HSUS recently about their dog fighting dogs and BSL stance. Of course, they say they are against BSL and that they believe dog fighting dogs deserve to be evaluated not just euthanized. We all know that actions speak louder than words...

[Marthina McClay]

Our Pack has also worked with HSMO on the Stoddard County case. Our therapy dog Zoe came from that case. They are great and Debbie Hill is fair and generally wants to help the dogs. They were great to work with and have had success with these dogs in the past. http://packrescue.blogspot.com/2008/07/yet-another-fight-bust-dog-turned.html#links
Marthina
Our Pack

[EmilyS]

oh great, Lookwood/ASPCA is right there with Wayne: "“Many if not most of the animals will be euthanized. They have medical or behavioral issues that prevent them from being placed in homes,” said Lockwood of the ASPCA. “The greatest kindness that might be shown to them is a humane death.”

They'll save a token few and then they'll blame the pit bull community for not "stepping up to the plate", as if a scattered bunch of volunteers could ingest 400 dogs just like that