Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann, the Humane Society of the United States, the Buckeye State Sheriff's Association and the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police have formed a partnership to combat animal fighting.
At a joint press conference, it was announced the HSUS is offering up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person involved in illegal animal fighting. This doubles the HSUS's longstanding reward of $2,500.
The attorney general's office will be taking animal fighting tips at 1-877-AG4OHIO (877-244-6446). The tip line will be open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-8:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m.-noon; and those tips will be routed to the appropriate local law enforcement agency.
The attorney general's Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Identification is also available to local law enforcement to help with investigations upon request.
The Ohio attorney general is not a newcomer to the issue of illegal animal fighting. Last October, he was honored during the 2007 Humane Law Enforcement Awards. Dann's award stemmed from his leadership role in the investigation and raid of a large Ohio dogfighting pit and seven fighting dog kennels based in the Dayton and Cincinnati areas. That investigation culminated in one of the largest and most successful criminal animal fighting crackdowns in U.S. history.
It is hoped the enhanced rewards program will spawn more tips that the attorney general and other law enforcement can act upon.
Dogfighting and cockfighting involves pitting two animals to fight each other until one of them cannot continue. Animals used for fighting suffer gruesome, bloody injuries and often death for the sake of gambling and entertainment.
Animal Fighting Reward Program Instructions: Anyone with information about illegal animal fighting should contact their local law enforcement or call the attorney general's office at 1-877-AG4OHIO (877-244-6446). The HSUS will protect the individual's identity if they want to remain anonymous if they will inform the agency they do not want their identity released to the public.
If the suspected animal fighter is convicted, ask the law enforcement agency involved in the case to write a letter to the HSUS. The letter should state the tip helped lead to the arrest and prosecution of the convicted animal fighter and should be mailed or faxed to: Animal Fighting Reward Program, c/o Ann Chynoweth, The Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L St. NW, Washington, DC 20037; fax: (301) 721-6414.
Dogfighting facts: Dogfighting is a highly organized criminal industry; more than 250,000 dogs are placed in dogfighting pits each year. Some 40,000 people are involved in organized dogfighting and an additional 100,000 are street-level fighters. A three-year study released by the Chicago Police Department showed that 65 percent of the people arrested for animal abuse crimes - including dogfighting - were also arrested for violent crimes against people.
Cockfighting facts: Tens of thousands of people are involved in cockfighting nationwide. Law enforcement raids across the country have revealed that cockfights, which are frequently attended by children, often involve gambling and, as a result of the large amounts of cash present, firearms and other weapons. Law enforcement officials have documented a strong connection between cockfighting and the distribution of illegal drugs.
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