At the request of the St. Petersburg Police Department, the ASPCA is on the ground in Pinellas County assisting with the investigation of a suspected dogfighting operation across multiple locations in Florida that resulted in the seizure of more than 100 dogs. We are providing subject matter expertise, including offering legal support and conducting veterinary and behavior forensic exams on all the dogs to support the investigation. We are also on standby to provide ongoing sheltering, medical care and behavioral treatment and enrichment for many of the dogs at an animal cruelty recovery facility once disposition is determined.

Upon veterinary forensic examination of the dogs, ASPCA experts found that many of the dogs had scarring consistent with organized dogfighting and many of the dogs had untreated medical conditions.

“The ASPCA is committed to working alongside law enforcement and other animal welfare agencies to bring dogfighting to an end by deploying our specialized subject matter experts to provide critical case support and consultation, as we are doing with this investigation,” said Matt Bershadker, ASPCA President & CEO. “We’re deeply grateful to all the agencies involved in this case for pursuing justice for these animals and continuing to make animal welfare a priority in Florida."

Dogfighting is a brutal form of animal cruelty in which dogs are exploited and forced to fight one another for the entertainment and profit of spectators. These dogs suffer the worst kind of human betrayal, and sadly, it is much more common than many people realize. The ASPCA estimates there are tens of thousands of individuals forcing hundreds of thousands of dogs to train, fight and suffer every year.

To date, we have assisted nearly 6,000 victims of dogfighting from more than 300 cases and have trained more than 35,000 law enforcement officers and animal welfare professionals across the country to better identify and respond to animal cruelty situations like these, including dogfighting.