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Health & Fitness

Animal Cruelty Hits Close to Home

Biggest Dog Fighting Ring in Baltimore Broken up This Week

EverythingdogBlog #96: Biggest Dog Fighting Ring in Baltimore Broken up

Animal Cruelty hits Close to Home

BARCS* is caring for the 24 dogs rescued from a dog fighting operation in West Baltimore this past week (Friday and Tuesday).

Three men have been arrested following a drug investigation that led to fighting dogs and puppies just weeks old.

Find out what's happening in Columbiawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

One house on West Lafayette had blood-stained carpet and walls, treadmills, scales, and a fighting ring. In addition, dogs were chained to the walls in the basement whose windows had been painted black. Four of the 15 dogs at this address were puppies.

Eleven dogs were found at a house on Fulton Street, including one lying dead in the back.

Find out what's happening in Columbiawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Of the 26 dogs at the sites, one had to be euthanized for aggression but the other dogs being held until the investigation is complete are expected to be adopted out or turned over to rescues, according to BARCS in downtown Baltimore.

Not the Only  Reason. . . .

WJZ related, “City officials say they take dog fighting seriously.

“’If individuals will abuse animals, the likelihood that they will also treat humans violently is very high,' said Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot.

“That’s why police say they are now aggressively investigating all cases.”

But dogs deserve better than this! Because a person who abuses dogs may then “graduate” to abusing humans is reason enough to nip things in the bud and stop it at the dog abuse level but dogs deserve better than that – they don’t deserve to be abused at all, even if such abuse never escalates to the human level. Dogs are sentient beings, fully capable of feeling pain and engaging in relationships. They are our best friends. Dogs themselves deserve better!

Dogs Deserve Better Than This!

As the ASPCA says: There’s No Excuse for Animal Abuse because No One Wins in a Dog Fight.

I applaud Baltimore Animal Control, BARCS, the Baltimore police, and coverage by the Baltimore Sun, CBS, ABC, WJZ, and WBAL for their caring.

*BARCS - Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter. Get more information at baltimoreanimalshelter.org or 410-396-4695 or 301 Stockholm Street or info@baltmoreanimalshelter.org - Mon – Fri 2-6 and Sa/Su 12-4.

 

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