Marty
02-11-2005, 06:11 PM
Lake Charles, LA -- Gloria Valier of Lake Charles loves to play in her yard with her grandson and her pit bull puppy Diamond; it was not too long ago when Valier had two other young pups. "When I left that morning I go check on my dogs. That evening when I got off at 1:30, I came home. I go back there to check on the dogs again, they were gone," says Valier.
Gloria says the lock on a kennel had been cut and her pitt bulls were no where to be found. She believes she knows why they were stolen, "There are a lot of dog fights in town in people's back yards." Police aren't sure if that's why the dogs were taken, but Louisiana does have a long history of being home to dog fights.
We investigated over the internet and found numerous accounts of dog fighting rings around the state. Valier say's it's a crime few people talk about, or report to police. "It's common knowledge around town that they are fighting those pitt bulls, " says Valier.
The state has taken some major steps to stop dog fighting rings, in fact, it's now a felony offense. If convicted you could be forced to pay anywhere between a $1,000 and $25,000 in fines, or go to jail for up to ten years. A judge even has the right to impose both of these penalties.
But for Gloria Valier, this issue is much more personal, she says, "If you are fighting them, I will find out, and I will be showing up in your yard for one of those fights, to find my dogs." ]
Calcasieu parish animal control says it has had reports of dog fighting in the past, but in recent months have had no complaints
Gloria says the lock on a kennel had been cut and her pitt bulls were no where to be found. She believes she knows why they were stolen, "There are a lot of dog fights in town in people's back yards." Police aren't sure if that's why the dogs were taken, but Louisiana does have a long history of being home to dog fights.
We investigated over the internet and found numerous accounts of dog fighting rings around the state. Valier say's it's a crime few people talk about, or report to police. "It's common knowledge around town that they are fighting those pitt bulls, " says Valier.
The state has taken some major steps to stop dog fighting rings, in fact, it's now a felony offense. If convicted you could be forced to pay anywhere between a $1,000 and $25,000 in fines, or go to jail for up to ten years. A judge even has the right to impose both of these penalties.
But for Gloria Valier, this issue is much more personal, she says, "If you are fighting them, I will find out, and I will be showing up in your yard for one of those fights, to find my dogs." ]
Calcasieu parish animal control says it has had reports of dog fighting in the past, but in recent months have had no complaints