Texas Dogfighting Ring Broken
It’s hard to believe this stuff goes on, unfortunately it does.
HOUSTON - State officials said late Friday that they had begun dismantling one of the largest dogfighting rings in the country that night, arresting eight people and seizing 187 dogs used by a sophisticated network of bettors throughout eastern Texas. Investigators continued to search for suspects Saturday.
In all, 55 people were indicted after an undercover investigation that lasted 17 months. Officials said the network’s matches drew crowds of up to 100 people, who placed tens of thousands of dollars in wagers on a single fight.
Gamblers commonly placed bets as high as $500 to $1,000 on the matches. The fights took place weekly or twice a month, they were by invitation only. That’s one invitation I never want to receive.
An undercover investigation started after receiving a tip from someone in a different state. The investigators gathered evidence, even managing to video tape a few of the fights. Authorities stated that during raids to seize the animals, state troopers also found firearms, marijuana, cocaine and stolen property.
The indictments charged the defendants only with engaging in dogfights, a felony that carries up to two years in prison, or misdemeanor charges of being a spectator at a dogfight, which carries up to a year in jail.
This is a despicable crime and the laws need to be changed to reflect the severity of the crime, stricter punishments need to put into place.
At least a bite has been taken out of one more dogfighting ring.