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MO: Area officials attend ASPCA dog fighting seminar
Area officials attend ASPCA dog fighting seminar
Friday, April 1, 2011
Lecia Forester , Daily Dunklin Democrat
CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. -- Three local law enforcement officials from the Kennett Police Department, Tena Petix, Alan Campbell, and Brandon Moore, attended a training workshop in Caruthersville on Thursday, to address the growing concerns over animal fighting activities.
"We see a lot of injured pit bulls and pit bulls that looked like they have been fought," said Tena Petix, Kennett Animal Control Officer. "Even though there is a ban in place in our city, they hide the animals." Petix said that the she has had to treat several pit bulls that were injured, then dumped or set free.
Erma Page, manager of the Caruthersville Humane Society says that they have the same problem.
"We come across pit bulls that are scarred or injured, and it is apparent that they have been fought," Page said. "We are very lucky to have a county that cares about animals and prosecution. Today's workshop is very helpful for us to know what to watch for,"
"We are very proactive in our county concerning animal abuse and fighting," said Lt. Ryan Holder, of the Pemiscot County Sheriff's Department. "This workshop is a way to help law enforcement officers identify situations where pit bull fighting could be occurring or signs that it has happened."
The training workshop was hosted by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) at the request of the Pemiscot County Sheriff's Office to help law enforcement agents, animal welfare professionals, and veterinarians identify and investigate organized animal fighting activities. This not only includes dog fighting but cock fighting as well.
There were close to 30 law enforcement officials from Missouri, Northeast Arkansas, and western Tennessee who signed up to take the course, which was taught by Terry Mills, ASPCA animal fighting specialist, and Tim Rickey, senior director with the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response.
Rickey and Mills, during the course of the training workshop, provided law enforcement officials the techniques that are available to investigate dog fighting, cock fighting, and other blood sports.
Attendees also heard a presentation on the background, the planning and execution of several groundbreaking cases, which included the case on one of the largest dog fighting raids in United States history in 2009.
Other things covered in the workshop were the different resources that are available for law enforcement officials including the nation's first criminal dog fighting DNA database, known as the Canine Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and an online ASPCA course entitled Combating Dogfighting.
During the multi-state raid, both Rickey and Mills, who are Missouri natives, played key roles. The raid included eight states and resulted in 26 arrests. More than 400 dogs were also seized during the course of the raid.
Before the raid, Mills had spent 18 months as an undercover officer with the Missouri State Highway Patrol. During this time, he gained access to the underground world of dog fighting and also obtained extensive evidence concerning the case.
Rickey has devoted his 20-year career to issues concerning animal welfare and led the Humane Society of Missouri's Animal Cruelty Task Force during the dog fighting investigation of 2009.
According to the ASPCA, the following information was obtained from a poll concerning blood sports:
* Of the general population, 81 percent say that more resources are needed to stop animal fighting, especially more training for law enforcement officials;
* Of the survey respondents, more than half on them, 51 percent, noted that they were aware of the connection between organized animal fighting and other more serious crimes, and;
* It was also learned that one in every 10 Americans suspects that someone they know is involved in the crime of organized animal fighting. According to the ASPCA, this is a notable statistic, since animal fighting is an illegal, underground activity.
The ASPCA is an organization that was founded in 1866 for the prevention of cruelty to animals and serves as the nation's leading voice concerning animal welfare. It was the first humane organization formed in the Americas. Its mission is to help provide the effective means to prevent cruelty to animals throughout the United States. It is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation and is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health service.
The ASPCA main headquarters is in New York City and it offers a wide assortment of programs. This includes a mobile clinic outreach initiative, its own humane law enforcement team, a veterinary forensics team and a mobile animal CSI unit.
Anyone needing more information, contact the organization at www.aspca.org.
* Karol Wilcox, of SEMO News Service, contributed to this article.
http://www.dddnews.com/story/1715231.html
Area officials attend ASPCA dog fighting seminar
Friday, April 1, 2011
Lecia Forester , Daily Dunklin Democrat
CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. -- Three local law enforcement officials from the Kennett Police Department, Tena Petix, Alan Campbell, and Brandon Moore, attended a training workshop in Caruthersville on Thursday, to address the growing concerns over animal fighting activities.
"We see a lot of injured pit bulls and pit bulls that looked like they have been fought," said Tena Petix, Kennett Animal Control Officer. "Even though there is a ban in place in our city, they hide the animals." Petix said that the she has had to treat several pit bulls that were injured, then dumped or set free.
Erma Page, manager of the Caruthersville Humane Society says that they have the same problem.
"We come across pit bulls that are scarred or injured, and it is apparent that they have been fought," Page said. "We are very lucky to have a county that cares about animals and prosecution. Today's workshop is very helpful for us to know what to watch for,"
"We are very proactive in our county concerning animal abuse and fighting," said Lt. Ryan Holder, of the Pemiscot County Sheriff's Department. "This workshop is a way to help law enforcement officers identify situations where pit bull fighting could be occurring or signs that it has happened."
The training workshop was hosted by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) at the request of the Pemiscot County Sheriff's Office to help law enforcement agents, animal welfare professionals, and veterinarians identify and investigate organized animal fighting activities. This not only includes dog fighting but cock fighting as well.
There were close to 30 law enforcement officials from Missouri, Northeast Arkansas, and western Tennessee who signed up to take the course, which was taught by Terry Mills, ASPCA animal fighting specialist, and Tim Rickey, senior director with the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response.
Rickey and Mills, during the course of the training workshop, provided law enforcement officials the techniques that are available to investigate dog fighting, cock fighting, and other blood sports.
Attendees also heard a presentation on the background, the planning and execution of several groundbreaking cases, which included the case on one of the largest dog fighting raids in United States history in 2009.
Other things covered in the workshop were the different resources that are available for law enforcement officials including the nation's first criminal dog fighting DNA database, known as the Canine Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and an online ASPCA course entitled Combating Dogfighting.
During the multi-state raid, both Rickey and Mills, who are Missouri natives, played key roles. The raid included eight states and resulted in 26 arrests. More than 400 dogs were also seized during the course of the raid.
Before the raid, Mills had spent 18 months as an undercover officer with the Missouri State Highway Patrol. During this time, he gained access to the underground world of dog fighting and also obtained extensive evidence concerning the case.
Rickey has devoted his 20-year career to issues concerning animal welfare and led the Humane Society of Missouri's Animal Cruelty Task Force during the dog fighting investigation of 2009.
According to the ASPCA, the following information was obtained from a poll concerning blood sports:
* Of the general population, 81 percent say that more resources are needed to stop animal fighting, especially more training for law enforcement officials;
* Of the survey respondents, more than half on them, 51 percent, noted that they were aware of the connection between organized animal fighting and other more serious crimes, and;
* It was also learned that one in every 10 Americans suspects that someone they know is involved in the crime of organized animal fighting. According to the ASPCA, this is a notable statistic, since animal fighting is an illegal, underground activity.
The ASPCA is an organization that was founded in 1866 for the prevention of cruelty to animals and serves as the nation's leading voice concerning animal welfare. It was the first humane organization formed in the Americas. Its mission is to help provide the effective means to prevent cruelty to animals throughout the United States. It is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation and is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health service.
The ASPCA main headquarters is in New York City and it offers a wide assortment of programs. This includes a mobile clinic outreach initiative, its own humane law enforcement team, a veterinary forensics team and a mobile animal CSI unit.
Anyone needing more information, contact the organization at www.aspca.org.
* Karol Wilcox, of SEMO News Service, contributed to this article.
http://www.dddnews.com/story/1715231.html