Dog DNA to be used in investigating and prosecuting dog-fight suspects

  Say what we want about sick Michael Vick, and I’ve said plenty, he did help to publicize the horrors of dog-fighting and to arouse the public.

The country’s first dog-fighting DNA database has been set up to help criminal investigators establish ties among breeders, owners, fighting pit operators and the dog victims themselves.

Even though dog-fighting is illegal in all 50 states, there is a lot of money made on fight purses and side betting. Multimillion dollar dog-fighting operations are often associated with other illegal activities like drug trafficking and gambling.

Big scale operations do not go to the pound to find fighting dogs. They are breeding them from established bloodlines. The real money comes from breeding champion fighting lines. A champion fighter can bring in up to $50,000 and a promising puppy can have a price tag of $5000.

The database, a joint effort of four different organizations, was developed following a large scale investigation last July covering seven different states which resulted in the largest dog-fighting raid in history. Twenty-six people were arrested and 400 dogs were seized.

The DNA taken from the dogs showed that many of them were related. Fighting-dog breeders will often pretend that they are just breeding pet dogs for the love of the breed and “don’t know nothin’ ‘bout no fightin’.” The DNA shows otherwise.

Using the database it will be possible to trace a dogs’ DNA back to the breeder. DNA evidence by itself will probably not result in a conviction, but combined with other evidence it makes a convincing case to take to a jury, hopefully eventually wiping out dog-fighting operations.

Many of the 400 dogs seized in the raid were injured and mutilated, but nearly 250 of them have been rehabilitated. Dogs who chose not to fight when given a choice are now serving as pets, service or therapy dogs.

Comments

[lynn Sinclair]

Dog fight supporters are truly ugly side of humans -- how can anyone watch it? I hope the DNA database helps.

[cube]

Good news. It's about time these horrible people are stopped in their tracks.

[Joanna]

Wow, dog fighting is just sick! I saw a show on animal planet where they were showing the animal control groups and they had a few pit bulls showed how they decided if they are able to be rehabilitated. They said if they showed another dog to the dog in question and it doesn't get upset then they can be rehabilitated but they did say most can't. It was neat in an odd kinda way how they can be great pets, great around kids but the second it sees another dog they go into kill mode.

[jackie]

pictures made me weep

[david miller]

Dog fighting is shocking. It happens a lot in UK too.

[Dennis the Vizsla]

I hope this helps send more of these dirtbags to prison.

[Lindsay]

I'm sure this database will help cut back on some of the dog fighting that goes on. It won't be a solution, but it's a start. I'm always happy to hear when the dogs are rehabilitated and given a second chance. It breaks my heart when they are euthanized at no fault of their own.

[Katie]

As a pit bull owner, I find this one fairly scary. Once you start tracing relatives, it seems like it's far too easy to start targeting innocent folks with pit bulls and painting them as dog fighters. It happens far too often and it's far too easy. Just because two dogs share bloodlines or DNA doesn't mean they're both being used in the same way. Being from "fighting lines" does not make the dog a fighter and does not make the owner a criminal.

If this truly is used ONLY to support cases of people who really ARE dog fighters, then all the better. I just don't have that much trust in government officials when it comes to pit bulls, I'm afraid. Not when they're trying to paint weight pull as a cover for dog fighting. Not when they're fingering responsible bully owners with exercise equipment and first aid kits as dog fighters.

Paranoid? A touch. It's hard to own this breed and not be.

[Jan]

I can definitely understand your concerns.

I do believe,
however, that as expensive and time consuming as it is for prosecutors 
to build a jury case, they will use the DNA evidence only when there is
ample evidence that they are indeed prosecuting dog-fighting rings and
not responsible dog owners.

jan

[Brian]

Oh! what money greed will do to people. You know we talk about the owners of these "dog-fights" and how they need to be prosecuted, which I totally agree, they need to be punished to the full extent of the law. But we forget about the people that keep them in business by attending these fights and spending their money. They also need to be prosecuted!

Hopefully, the DNA will at least try and put a stop to the top tier of this mindless game.

Keep up the good work.

[Wireless Dog Fence]

Dog fighting is one of the most desipicable so called sport there is. I cannot comprehend the mentality of anyone that gets enjoyment watching 2 animals rip each other to pieces.