Emily Boccia, DVM
Maddie’s® Shelter Medicine Intern, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine 2022-23
A note: Dogs involved with dog fighting will occasionally be referred to as “dog fighting dogs” for the sake of brevity in this blog post. However, these dogs are more than dog fighters and should be regarded as such.
Dog fighting is a felony crime in all 50 US states, and is considered a form of animal abuse. Law enforcement views dog-fighting as a community issue because it causes neighborhood disturbances and hazards that extend beyond the individuals involved, and drains the resources of law enforcement agencies and animal sheltering organizations. While not every animal shelter has personnel that respond directly to animal crimes, there are many ways that shelters can help address dog fighting in their communities. Here are three of those ways, and how shelters can respond.
Collaboration with Law Enforcement
If Animal Control Officers or Humane Investigators are associated with a shelter organization, these specialists will respond to reports of dog fighting in their community and may respond alongside local police. Police may also request assistance from animal shelters if they haven’t had as much experience with signs of dog fighting, appropriate handling strategies for these dogs, or need somewhere for the dogs to be housed after removal from the crime scene. Shelters serve law enforcement as a resource on animal handling, husbandry, and medical needs. Finally, a shelter may report signs of dog fighting to law enforcement when they suspect an incoming animal has been abused in this way.
For shelters, dog fighting cases can be an opportunity to build bridges with law enforcement agencies and open communication lines for future collaborations. Shelters can also serve on or even form a task force on dog fighting in their community. These task forces are groups of institutions or individuals who pool their expertise and design multifaceted plans for investigating and eliminating dog fighting in their communities. Other task force partners might include a representative of the Mayor’s or Governor’s offices, a representative from the local District Attorney’s office, a representative from the Health Department, among others.
Housing Seized Canine Victims
Shelter organizations may be tasked with housing dogs used for dog-fighting once they are seized or surrendered. This may result in a single dog coming to the shelter to as many as 50 or more. Housing and handling these dogs poses unique challenges, and having a plan ahead of time will help shelter staff do so safely and conscientiously. It is important to remember that dogs are both evidence and victims in evolving cases. As such, they require enhanced security measures in the shelter facility to prevent the public from gaining access to them, as well as moderate to intense medical care. A separate area in the shelter for housing these dogs is ideal. Secure fencing around the facility and hospital perimeter, and the presence of security personnel are also highly recommended. In some cases, perpetrators have attempted to get their dogs back through stealth or force; these security measures are key to keeping the dogs and shelter staff safe.
Dogs who have been involved in dog fighting may not know how to act like companion dogs. These dogs may never have walked on a leash, or been indoors, or in a kennel. Due to boredom, stress, or anxiety, it is not uncommon for ex-fighting dogs to be destructive in shelter kennels. Cinderblock or cement walls and wire kennel roofs are recommended to prevent damage, self-truama and escape. Cardboard feeding dishes should be substituted for metal dishes because they are safe for dogs to destruct. Appropriate enrichment, exercise, and social contact can go a long way to preventing destructive behaviors.
Although they are generally quite docile with people, dog fighting dogs have been selectively bred for tenacious aggression toward other dogs. Extreme caution should be taken when handling these dogs outside of their kennels because an encounter with another dog could result in injuries or even death. This bred and trained behavior places both dogs and their handlers in danger. A plan should be in place in case of an incident, and in general, only trained staff should handle dog fighting dogs to prevent these situations.
Direct Veterinary Forensic Investigation and Veterinary Care
If a shelter organization has a veterinarian or veterinary staff responding in dog fighting cases, forensic training to document evidence and medical findings used in legal cases is recommended. Photographs or videos of victims are essential, and should include the patient from all angles (from above, both sides, front, behind) and any abnormalities identified. Each image should be taken with an identification card in the frame that lists the dog’s name or number, the date, and the organization. Documentation of physicals or post-mortem exams or should be thorough and be legible by both medical and non-medical backgrounds.
Immediate and long-term medical care may also be the responsibility of a shelter organization. For fighting dogs, fractures, wounds and skin infections are common. Diseases like parvovirus, intestinal parasites, babesia, heartworm, and leptospirosis are high risk, do to lack of previous wellness care. Keeping these conditions in mind when examining these dogs is important for both individual and population health within the shelter.
Whether intended or not, animal shelters and shelter veterinarians are in a prime position to make an impact on dog fighting in their communities. Their knowledge about animal behavior and medicine is an asset to law enforcement, and with the right resources, personnel, and facilities, can be essential partners in response to these cases. Premptive planning and open lines of communication help shelters and law enforcement assist the dogs and respond effectively when dog fighting is discovered in their community.
Resources:
Animal fighting. American Veterinary Medical Association. (n.d.). Retrieved November 3, 2022, from https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/avma-policies/animal-fighting
Legislation Section 351: Prohibition of Animal Fighting. New York State Senate. (2014, September 22). Retrieved November 2, 2022, from https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/AGM/351
Lockwood, R. (2012, November). Dogfighting: A Guide for Community Action. Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, U.S. Department of Justice.
Sinclair, L., Merck, M., & Lockwood, R. (2006). Forensic investigation of animal cruelty: A guide for veterinary and law enforcement professionals. Humane Society Press.
Whipple, T. (2022, October). Animal Cruelty and Fighting Investigations: Considerations for New York Enforcement Officers. Fulton, NY; Cayuga Community College.
Wisch, R. F. (2022). Table of Veterinary Reporting Requirement and Immunity Laws. Animal Legal and Historical Center. Retrieved November 2, 2022, from https://www.animallaw.info/topic/table-veterinary-reporting-requirement-and-immunity-laws
Zawistowski, S., & Lockwood, R. (2013). Animal Fighting. In L. Miller (Ed.), Shelter Medicine for Veterinarians and Staff (Second, pp. 441–452). essay, Wiley-Blackwell.
