Update June 7, 2008: Declaring dog fighting in the state an "epidemic",  Anne Sterling, Indiana state director for the Humane Society of the United States, along with State Attorney General Steve Carter, announced the reward for tips or information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in illegal animal fighting, would be doubled from $2500-$5000.

Dogfighting and cockfighting are Class D felonies in Indiana, punishable by up to three years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. Ind. Code § 35-46-3-9 (Find a copy of Indiana's dog fighting laws in Animal Law Coalition's Laws.) Yet, in this past year authorities arrived in Bellemeade Park in Evansville to find at least 300 people watching a dog fight. As if it was a basketball or football game. There have been more than a dozen cases involving dog fighting in Indiana in the last 2 years. It is a difficult crime to detect.

Anyone with information may call the animal fighting hotline at (800) 760-2746.

For more animal or dog fighting hotlines around the country, read Animal Law Coalition's report below on the importance of hotlines in combating these blood "sports".

Original report: After an 11-month investigation into an alleged national dogfighting ring, the Pima County, Arizona Sheriff's Department, the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, the Humane Society of the United States, and other local agencies raided four separate properties, rescuing 150 dogs, generally used for breeding.

They also found a trailer containing dozens of guns. Authorities seized the guns as well as cash and dogfighting paraphernalia that included treadmills modified to force the dogs to exercise to exhaustion, steroids, a rape stand used to force breeding, and break sticks which are used to pry apart the jaws of dogs during a fight.

There have been six arrests thus far including Mahlon Patrick and T.L. Williams who are allegedly two of the most influential people in the dogfighting underworld. Mahlon Patrick has allegedly been a well known figure in animal fighting circles since the late 1960s and developed several pit bull bloodlines that are used by dogfighters. T.L. Williams operates a large dog registry that is used by animal fighters nationwide.

Though the prosecutors requested $500,000 bail for each suspect arrested, a local magistrate freed them on their own recognizance.

Many of the dogs were kept on heavy chains, neglected and isolated from humans. Most showed scarring and injuries from dog fighting. There is no question these dogs have suffered terribly. Many showed joy and relief when they were rescued by authorities and humane society staff.

For more information on this case, click here.

This dog fighting bust illustrates the importance of animal fighting hotlines where people can call and anonymously report possible dog fighting. (Note below a list of aninal fighting hotlines; let Animal Law Coalition know of any other hotlines to add to this list. You will also find below a list of signs to watch for that might indicate there is a dog fighting operation.)  This bust also points up the significance of task forces in which law enforcement agencies from different jurisdictions come together to investigate animal fighting.  

Task forces allow authorities to target dog fighting across regions instead of simply city by city or county by county. In the past dog fighters charged in one locale would simply move their dogs to the next city or county. With a task force, law enforcement in different jurisdictions work together to go after dog fighters throughout a region. Also, because dog fighting is typically characterized by illegal gambling and drugs, weapons, violence and prostitution, a task force can combine the resources and efforts of the different agencies or departments investigating the various crimes and more effectively find dog fighters who likely have engaged in any number of other illegal activities.  

Stronger laws help too. Many of the current laws against dog fighting are very difficult to enforce. As with many lucrative illegal businesses, access to dog fights is controlled; secret codes are used to spread information about dog fights and the breeders. Authorities rarely catch promoters, dog fighters and spectators at a dog fight and, in the inner cities, dog fights can be spontaneous. It is very easy to disband a fight; within minutes, the participants can be long gone - the human ones, that is. Investigators who find the scene of a fight sometimes see dogs still fighting. They find dogs bleeding, badly injured and disabled, just left at the scene. Others are abandoned or killed because they have lost their owners' money in fights. In the inner cities, the authorities find fighting dogs housed in abandoned buildings or tied up on the streets. 

To give law enforcement more tools to combat this horrific activity, states like South Carolina are working to make all activities associated with animal fighting illegal. S.C. Code Ann. §§16-27-30-40-50 This includes making it illegal not only to stage or participate in the fights but also to own, keep, breed or train dogs for fighting; invest in or provide any equipment of property for a fight, gamble on a fight, be present while preparations are made for a fight, attend a dog fight, or possess dog fighting equipment or paraphernalia.

Seizure, bonding and forfeiture laws are also critical to this effort. Under South Carolina's relatively recent law, for example, as with drug laws, authorities can seek forfeiture of all property associated with or obtained because of dog fighting including income, houses, cars, trucks, furniture, etc. And, oh yes, the dogs.  S.C. Code Ann. § 16-27-55

It is important to have strong penalties for violating dog fighting-related laws. A small fine or a few months in jail is not much of a deterrent when involvement in dog fighting can mean five to six figure purses or a market for illegal drugs and weapons and prostitution. Also, breeding or training dogs for aggression or fighting is a low overhead, lucrative business, not easily deterred with light sentences. (In fact, breeding or training dogs for aggression or fighting is not even illegal in most places.)   

There is currently pending before Congress a bill to make all dog fighting a federal crime. The Dog Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act would add to the arsenal of tools given to law enforcement last year in the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act which made it a felony to sell, purchase, transport or receive dogs in interstate or foreign commerce for fighting.  (For more on that go to Animal Welfare Act, 7 U.S.C. §2156) Dog fighting often involves the sale, purchase or transport of animals or equipment as well as movement of funds across state and even national borders. Only a federal law can effectively stop it. Click here for more on this bill and how you can help pass it.

Click here for more information on efforts underway now to strengthen state animal fighting laws.  

Click on Downloads at the top of this page to get a copy of Animal Law Coalition's model dog fighting law. Let us know how we can help you adapt and pass this law in your state or community.

Animal Fighting Hotlines

HSUS Dog Fighting Hotline: 1-877-847-4787 with a reward up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a dogfighter. All information is kept confidential

Ohio Dog Fighting Hotline: 1-877-AG4OHIO or 877-244-6446. For information about the hotline and rewards offered, click here.  

NFL Dog Fighting Hotline 212-450-2000

Pennsylvania SPCA Dog Fighting Hotline 1-866-601-SPCA

Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force Hotline 1-888-848-8311 or you can email them at vaanimalfightingtaskforce@onebox.com

Call Cook County (Chicago area) Crime Stoppers Hotline (1-800-535-STOP) if you have information about dog-fighting. A reward up to $1,000 may be available. All reports are anonymous.

Kansas City, Missouri TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-TIPS to report animal fighting.

New Orleans, Louisiana call Crimestoppers Hotline at 822-1111 or the S.P.C.A. at 944-7445 to report animal fighting

Michigan Humane Society confidential hotline to report dog fighting: l (313) 872-3401

To report animal fighting in Connecticut, call 860-808-5180

To report animal fighting in New Mexico, call 888-260-2178

To find a dog fighting hotline in your area, click here.

Signs Dog Fighting Might be Taking Place

Dogs: As in the case of the dogs in the Tuscon raid, most dogs used in dog fighting are pit bull type dogs.  Look for several pit bull type dogs in one location. They are likely to be chained sometimes with weights or kept in cages or small kennels in yards, basements or a separate garage. The location may be disguised as a rescue or boarding facility. Some of the dogs are likely to be bred.  Look for evidence the dogs are being trained for fighting or to be aggressive.  The dogs may be transported or moved often especially at night.  The dogs are likely to have wounds or scars or other injuries.  

Paraphernalia: Dog fighters use paraphernalia to train or breed dogs for aggression or simply control them: modified treadmills, breaksticks, rape stands, steroids, vitamins and other drug or food supplements; veterinary equipment and supplies, springpoles, catmills, flirtpoles, weights, chains, heavy collars, and tires hung from trees or other objects. There are likely to be dog fighting publications and even photographs, videos or DVD of training or fights. There may be trophies, certificates or other evidence of awards from fights.

Signs of Fighting: There may be some structure or area such as an abandoned building, garage, farmhouse, basement or field used as a fighting pit (Sometimes a street corner will do) though this could be at another location. Look for people of all ages coming and going usually at night with dogs. Even if the fighting pit is not at the location, there may be blood spatters on the training equipment or generally on the property along with parts of dead animals like small dogs, cats or rabbits that are used for bait.  ("Bait animals" are used to help train or "warm up" the fighting dogs for a fight. They are put into a cat mill or mesh bag and suspended above the fighting dog as "bait" or thrown into a pit with a fighting dog.  They are often stolen pets or obtained through "free to good home" advertisements.)

Look for evidence of illegal gambling and drugs, weapons and prostitution. Dog fights are notorious for this.

Advertising/Communications About Fighting: Look for ads or websites that refer to breeding, selling or buying pit bull type dogs that may be referred to as "game bred" dogs or by titles such as "Champions" or "Grand Champions". There are ads or websites with postings of stats and other information about fights or breeding, training and keeping dogs for fighting.    

Remember dog fighting is a dangerous underworld activity. If you suspect dog fighting, call a hotline at once. Don't try to approach the suspected dog fighters or go onto their property yourself.