Dogfighting More Common Than You Think, Says GA Rescue Group

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA — National Dog Fighting Awareness Day came and went last Sunday without much hoopla. Gwinnett County Sheriff Butch Conway was one of the few to recognize it, doing so on his department's Facebook page. His spokeswoman called the vicious activity "a terrible betrayal by mankind." Animal advocates say dog-fighting rings continue to operate, often in rural parts of the state, and shelters are rehabbing the tortured animals for life in a home.

"It’s hard to imagine that anyone finds it entertaining to watch dogs tearing one another apart for sport," Shannon Volkodav, a spokeswoman for Sheriff Conway, told Patch.

Animal advocate Jason Flatt, owner of Friends to the Forlorn Pitbull Rescue, said dog fighting is more common and more criminal than most Georgians realize.

"For most people it isn't in front of our faces every day, but it's out there," he said. "Unfortunately, you only hear about big cases that are actually busted. There are dog-fighting operations going on undetected every day. It isn't a public event. They are usually held in rural, secluded areas where it's not easy to spot and it's not easy to prove.

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"People think dog fighting is about two pitbulls killing each other and many people don't care about pitbulls so they don't care about dog fighting, but it actually affects the community in a lot of ways," Flatt said. "There's a big criminal element to dog fighting operations - illegal guns, gambling, drugs, organized crime, gangs. Dog fighting is now a felony in every state and dog fighting charges usually come along with a host of other charges."

Sheriff Conway is a longtime animal advocate who brought Operation Second Chance, known as the Jail Dogs Program, to the Gwinnett County Jail. In eight years, this program has rescued nearly 450 dogs. While in the Jail Dogs program, a Gwinnett inmate even wrote a book while in jail, "Troubled To Trained."

Cat rescue was added to the program in 2013 and has resulted in the rescue of over 40 cats. Sheriff Conway offered $10,000 of his own money several years ago as a reward to anyone offering information about dogfighting in Gwinnett county.

"I have no doubt that [the Sheriff] would utilize every resource available to him to investigate any reports of dogfighting," said Vokodov. "We encourage anyone who is aware of this brutal practice to report it to authorities."

Conway noted the day with a post saying his office "is proud to support the National Sheriffs' Association and the National Law Enforcement Center on Animal Abuse in their partnership with ASPCApro to help spread the word about National Dogfighting Day."

How can someone recognize something wrong and what is the best way to report it?

"If you see multiple pitbulls or pitbull-type dogs chained up outside, something isn't right," Flatt said. "If you see them spaced out where they can't touch one another, barrels for shelter, inadequate access to food and water, there is something suspect going on. Dogs in those conditions are not family pets. Most counties have an anti-tethering law, so if you see these conditions, the first step is to contact the local animal control or law enforcement and report it. The next step is to reach out to the HSUS End Dogfighting Campaign or the ASPCA.

Friends to the Forlorn Pitbull Rescue, Inc. is a volunteer-based 501(c)3 rescue and community outreach, based in Paulding County, Georgia. Friends to the Forlorn Pitbull Rescue is known for helping the dogs who need them the most, including those rescued from dog fighting.

"We have rescued at least 60 dogs from dog-fighting situations," said Flatt. "Just because a dog came from a dog fighting situation doesn't mean it will be dog aggressive; just because a dog may be dog aggressive doesn't mean it is human aggressive. For example, we rescued Louie from Macon, Georgia, where he was part of a dog fighting case. His owner pled guilty to 11 counts of animal cruelty and 1 count of dog fighting. Louie was found in horrible condition: eating broken glass, ulcerated eye, bilateral luxating patellas, elbow crushed from a dog bite, heartworm positive. It was apparent he had experienced horrific things due to dog fighting and his living conditions. FTTF took him in, provided the surgeries and other medical care to get him healthy, and adopted out to a home with two other rescued pitbulls, as well as his new best friend: a 4-year-old child. Louie came from a dog-fighting situation but he is now part of a loving family and gives nothing but love right back."

What's next for Friends to the Forlorn Pitbull Rescue? And how can someone support the organization?

"We have been able to help hundreds of dogs thanks to our network of incredible foster homes, volunteers, and supporters," said Flatt. "The time has come to begin planning for what's next for Friends to the Forlorn: our dream rescue shelter." Not only will building the shelter allow the group to help local dogs in need, but it will provide more opportunities to meet the needs of the community through educational and spay/neuter programs.

This facility will be a pitbull rescue shelter like never before, says Flatt, and a phase of the planning is dedicated to building space for dogs rescued from dog fighting and their needs. The group is participating in the Michelson Found Animals Saving Pets Challenge in May with a goal of raising $200,000 and all money raised going toward the shelter capital campaign. People can learn more about Friends to the Forlorn, its plans for the future, its dogs, and how to help by following the group on social and checking out its website.

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Gwinnett Inmate Trains Dogs, Writes Book 'Troubled To Trained'

Photo courtesy Friends of the Forlorn