The Justice Department announced Monday it had conducted the largest dismantling of a dogfighting operation in South Carolina state history, leading to 305 dogs being rescued.
The bust was conducted with a joint team of more than 60 federal and state officers executing 23 search warrants on locations in various counties in the state.
ALL 4,000 BEAGLES HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM VIRGINIA RESEARCH FACILITY
“To force dogs to fight, often to the death, for the enjoyment of others is not only a federal crime, it is also cruel, sadistic, and can create a haven for other illicit activities involving drugs and firearms,” U.S. Attorney Adair Boroughs said in a statement. “This joint operation, which has been months in the making, makes clear that dogfighting operations will find no refuge here in South Carolina. I especially want to thank our state and federal partners, the Governor’s Office, and our community partners for their leadership and work on this issue.”
The DOJ said it seized $40,000 in cash, 30 firearms, and “various evidence related to dogfighting” and arrested more than 20 people for state-level charges “relating to animal cruelty and dogfighting,” according to a press release.
“The depravity involved in carrying out a dogfighting conspiracy is unimaginable to most people, and those involved in such a crime must be rooted out and punished,” Gov. Henry McMaster said in a statement. “On behalf of all South Carolinians, I would like to thank the dedicated state and federal law enforcement officers who uncovered and disrupted this unspeakable cruelty. Our state is safer because of their hard work on this investigation.”
A total of 305 dogs were rescued, with 275 of them believed to have been involved in the dogfighting. The DOJ handed the dogs off to the Humane Society of the United States and Bark Nation to care for rescued animals.
“Even after the many years we have worked to protect dogs from the calculated brutality that dogfighting perpetuates, our responders are still struck by the resilience of these dogs who have suffered unthinkable cruelty,” Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, said in a statement. “We are grateful to the federal and state officials for intervening on behalf of these dogs and for the opportunity to work together to get them the care they deserve.”
The group said the dogs were found with scars, wounds, and lacerations, and the living conditions for the animals, who apparently had no food or water, were poor. They also said some of the dogs “eagerly greeted responders with wagging tails and kisses” while others were “hunched over and peered reluctantly at the responders.”
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The Humane Society of the United States assisted in giving a new home to each of the 4,000 beagles rescued from a Virginia facility this summer.
Forcing dogs to fight or possessing, training, selling, buying, delivering, receiving, or transporting the animals intended for use in dogfighting is a felony with a punishment of up to five years in federal prison under the Animal Welfare Act, according to DOJ.
