AK: Cruel case highlights dog fighting problem in Arklatex

Posted: Jan 05, 2017 4:49 PM EST
Updated: Jan 05, 2017 4:49 PM EST
By Gerry May
EL DORADO, Ark. -
It's a clear and sad case of more dog fighting in the Arklatex. This time it's in El Dorado, Arkansas, where -- even more sadly -- it doesn't shock those who know all about the problem.

Animal Control Officer Charles Hartsell showed us six pit bulls or pit mixes he seized from one property on December 28. He says he rushed to the scene with police as soon as he got a tip that the dogs were being fought.

At least one dog's face was badly mangled. Another had a severe cut on the ear. Another could hardly use one of its front paws.

"They're dripping with blood, and they're all just cut up," Hartsell recalls seeing.

At least one of the dogs appears to have had its ears clipped in a cruel way by thieves. Hartsell says dogs are stolen in and around El Dorado, and then pitted against each other.

Hartsell drove us through a troubled section of town where he found the dogs in pens in back of a home.
He says officers just missed catching the perpetrators.

He believes the dog fighters in this case are low level juveniles. Hartsell says the next level involves adults who bet money. And the third level is for big money -- thousands of dollars -- in what Hartsell calls "The Michael Vick League," named for the former NFL star who went to prison for dog fighting.

"All three are active everywhere," Hartsell says of the levels of dog fighting.

As hard as he tries, Hartsell says the problem is getting worse, even among juveniles. Many have been caught before, are ordered not to have dogs anymore, get probation, then steal more dogs, and find places to hide them.

"If they fight and they're really bad off they'll just let them go knowing we'll pick them up," Hartsell says.

The dogs may wind up at the city pound like the six in this recent case. Or they may wind up at the small town's shelter, which currently has more than 300 dogs.

"They're lucky if they end up at the city pound or with us," says Tanja Jackson of the Union County Animal Protection Society. "Those are the lucky ones."

Jackson says they've found dead or severely injured or maltreated dogs dumped around town. She says one solution could be a law for pet owners.

"If the animals had a city tag and they were registered and they had their mandatory rabies license on at least they would come back to the owner, and the owner would be responsible for that animal," she says.

Hartsell says more money is needed.

"The county struggles to pay us to go out and enforce the laws because where does the money come from?" he says.

And so the vicious cycle continues.

The six dogs are getting veterinary care, thanks to donations. No owners have come forward to claim the dogs.

Meantime, El Dorado authorities are still working to make arrests and file charges, while more cases of dog fighting pop up.


A dog with a badly wounded face is one of six seized from one property.



http://www.ktbs.com/story/34195033/cruel-case-highlights-dog-fighting-problem-in-arklatex