'Horrifically Cruel' Dogfighting Ring Busted

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PONTIAC, MI – Authorities from an Oakland County Sheriff’s Office task force, the FBI and the Downriver Area Narcotics Organization broke up a dog fighting ring over the weekend that authorities described as “horrifically cruel.”

Eleven people were arrested in the raid on Pontiac’s Mark Avenue Saturday and are expected to be arraigned in court this week. Five dogs, including puppies that appeared to be in training, were rescued, The Oakland Press and WDIV-TV report.

The raid occurred at a rental property, and the occupants had only lived there for about six months, according to reports. Those arrested included not only the organizer of the fight, who reportedly has previous felony dog fighting and narcotics convictions, but also others who had driven more than three hours to participate in the fight.

Mark James, who lives across the street from the property that was raided, told WDIV that he “saw all the dogs moving in and out of there.”

“We assumed something was going on,” he said.

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately return phone calls.

Michigan lawmakers put more teeth in the state’s dogfighting laws, making them some of the toughest in the United States in 2012. Now, dogfighting is punishable by up to 20 years in jail and fines of $100,000. Before the changes, those convicted of engaging in the violent blood sport faced up to four years in jail and a $50,000 fine.

At the time, Vicki Deisner of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) said “Michigan is out ahead on this one,” according to the Detroit Free Press.

The ASPCA said dogfighting is a pervasive problem in parts of Michigan, including Detroit, Flint and Kalamazoo, which were considered national hotbeds for the illegal activity.

Last week, the FBI said that it would begin classifying animal cruelty as a Class A felony with its own category in the National Incident-Based Reporting System, a national database of crime statistics.

The aim is to prevent both animal abuse and identify individuals who might become violent offenders, according to a report by The Christian Science Monitor.

Mary Lou Randour, senior adviser for animal cruelty programs at the Animal Welfare Institute, told The Christian Science Monitor the change sends an important message.

“When the FBI says animal cruelty is important and we are going to track it, it sends a message to others in law enforcement and the community at large saying ‘pay attention to this,’” she said.

A post on the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page generated a robust conversation. Follow it below:

» Photo via Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.