Dogs now being transported to temporary shelter to receive urgent medical care
Rock Island, Ill.—At the request of the FBI and Rock Island Police Department, the ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) helped to remove 64 pit bulls from multiple properties suspected to be involved with dog fighting in Rock Island, Ill. and Davenport, Iowa on Thursday.
After search warrants were served Thursday morning by the FBI, responders discovered dogs tethered on heavy chains and training devices consistent with dog fighting, along with narcotics and a firearm. This seizure is the result of an investigation that began approximately one year ago.
The dogs are being transported to a temporary shelter in an undisclosed location, where they will receive medical attention and behavioral enrichment by ASPCA veterinarians, behaviorists and responders. The dogs will be cared for at the temporary shelter until custody is determined by the court. The ASPCA is working closely with law enforcement and prosecutors to ensure the best legal outcome for these animals.
“The level of brutality we continue to see in organized dog fighting rings is profoundly troubling,” said Tim Rickey, vice president of ASPCA Field Investigations and Response. “We’re relieved these animals have finally been removed from this cycle of violence. Many people will be surprised to learn that dog fighting is happening in their community. It’s an underground activity that goes mostly unnoticed by the public, but it happens all across the country.”
Earlier this year, the ASPCA collected nearly 50,000 comments from members of the public urging the U.S. Sentencing Commission to crack down on animal fighting by increasing the maximum sentence for federally convicted dog fighters from 3 to 5 years. For more information on the ASPCA’s efforts to tackle dog fighting and what the public can do to help, please visit www.aspca.org/dogfighting.
ASPCA media contacts:
Kelly Krause, kelly.krause@aspca.org, 646-784-2098
Emily Schneider, emily.schneider@aspca.org, 646-784-5111
About the ASPCA®
Founded in 1866, and celebrating its 150th birthday this year, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first animal welfare organization in North America and serves as the nation’s leading voice for animals. More than two million supporters strong, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. For more information, please visit www.ASPCA.org, and be sure to follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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