5/6/2021
DOGFIGHTING INVESTIGATIONS
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Dogfighters Profits From the Dogs
Drugs and other illegal activities are hot beds on all three levels of dogfighting. Direct ties to human trafficking, prostitution, and/or child porn are common in animal fighting.
Humane Society of the United States
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Arizona Dogfighting Law
§ 13-2910.01. Dog fighting; classification
A. A person commits animal fighting by knowingly: 1. Owning, possessing, keeping or training any animal if the person knows or has reason to know that the animal will engage in an exhibition of fighting with another animal. 2. For amusement or gain, causing any animal to fight with another animal, or causing any animals to injure each other. 3. Permitting any act in violation of paragraph 1 or 2 to be done on any premises under the person's charge or control.
B. This section does not: 1. Prohibit or restrict activities permitted by or pursuant to title 3. [FN1] 2. Apply to animals that are trained to protect livestock from predation and that engage in actions to protect livestock. C. Animal fighting is a class 5 felony.
§ 13-2910.02. Presence at dog fight; classification
Any person who is knowingly present at any place or building where preparations are being made for an exhibition of the fighting of animals, or who is present at such exhibition, is guilty of a class 6 felony.
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Dogfighters Categories
• Organized
• Hobbyists/Amateur
• Street Level Fighters
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Organized Dogfighters • Organized dogfighters have established bloodlines and yards. • Their stock is valued as high dollar and known for their gameness. • Amateurs view them as icons and seek their guidance on dogs.
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Dogfighting Paraphernalia, Confinement, and Other Items Commonly Used
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Basic Terminology • Bulldog and Hound – old school term for American pit bull terrier • Bump/Roll – to test a dog • Cur - An American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) is not game or quits in the pit. Dogfighters call any dog who is not an American pit bull terrier a cur. • Game Test and Gameness– Game Test is to assess a dog’s ability and willingness to fight. A game dog will continue to go even with grave injuries. • Cull - kill off curs • Keep – Rigorous diet, exercise, and training program to condition a dog before a fight. Typically, six to eight weeks long. • Pit (box) – Usually 24 to 26 inches high and 14 to 20 feet square. • [ ] – refers to pit or a box dog • CH – Champion – won three matches • GRCH – Grand Champion – won five fights with no losses
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Typical Chain Set Up
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Car Axle
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Typical Urban Housing
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Typically Kenneled Until 4 months old Puppies Being “Chain Broke”
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Placement of Scars & Wounds
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Scar Patterns – Are the injuries consistent with dogfighting?
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Scarring
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Heavy Scarring on Face and Head
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Gr. Ch. Ace
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The granulation bed takes 3-5 days to form.
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Broken Leg That Was Never Set
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Scars and Broken Leg
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Veterinarian’s Red Flags
• Multiple fractures on the forelimbs • Scarring in the right areas • Fractured or worn teeth • Paying cash or a 3rd party paying
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Scar Patterns Missing Part of Lip
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Egregious Animal Cruelty
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Entomology • Maggots – can tell time of injury in live animal, DNA, take maggots if feeding on.
• Doc temp., location of animal, weather, etc.
• Maggots will feed on any open skin/injury – otherwise they start on head.
• Get sample of each type of maggots – small to largest. Maggots will move towards light.
• Note if yellow jackets and ants since they eat maggots
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Rape Stands
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Whelping Pens
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Preparing For a Match
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Keeps
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Excerpt From a Dogfighter’s Manuel About a Keep “During your workouts, praise your dog and pet him often…Remember, the more your dog likes and trusts you, the longer and harder he will fight for you.”
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Wildlife Commonly Used As Bait in Dogfighting
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Spring Poles
Courtesy Game-dog.com
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Mills Used to Condition Dogs: Slat Mill
Courtesy of Dog Trotter aka Bob Lumus
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Carpet Mill
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Human Grade Treadmill Converted for Dog Use
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Cat Mill aka Jenny
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Turn Table
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Swimming
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Flirt Pole
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Supplements /Performance Enhancements
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Break Sticks
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Break Sticks – Signed or Kennel Name
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Medications
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Fish antibiotics are commonly used by dog fighters, they are cheap and accessible.
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Blood and Hair on Skin Stapler
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A Dog’s Pedigree is Key
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pedigree.gamedogs.cz/
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Online Pedigrees www.apbt.online-pedigrees.com
Humane Society of the United States
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Pedigrees Can be a Wealth of Information
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Calling Weights
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Determining Conditioned Weight
Chain weight – 41 pounds Condition weight – 36 pounds
• At 37 pounds the dog has a strong bite but got winded and had no endurance. • At 36 pounds he had a stronger bite, strong hold on his opponent, and increased endurance. • At 35 pounds the dog’s endurance increased but his bite was not so hard and could not hold his opponent thus losing his grip.
It is determined the best fight weight for the dog is 36 pounds – he has the optimal mouth and endurance. After his weight is determined the dog is either game tested or matched.
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Handwritten Notes Found on Pedigrees
• “killed a good dog at 10 months”
• Parents to puppies of sale “Eli Kids Satin Lady” 2xW 1:30min. 2:44min.
• “Boggan’s Apple Hard Mouth Bitch and “Bailey’s Willie Wonka” Stupid Game
• “Cold as Ice but throwing some Monstas”
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Books About Dogfighting Many are written by dogfighters
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Underground Dogfighting Magazines
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THE MATCH
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Hanging Scales
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Wash Tub
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The Pit
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Stationary Pit
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Collapsed Pit
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Same Pit Rolled Up
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Blood Stained Carpet in the Pit
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Over 250K Pit Side
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Common Methods to Cull Dogs • Gun shot – primarily used in rural areas with a 22 to the head. • Hanging • Electrocution • Drowning – Typically 55 gallon drum barrel with locking lid or drop in cage. • Other – some fighters are vindictive and take the dog’s loss as a hit to their ego. – Allowing other dogs to kill the dog – Beat dog to death ,etc.
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AVERAGE TIME IS 8 – 12 MINUTES UNTIL DEATH
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ARE THERE OTHER VIOLATIONS -
EXCESSIVE CHAIN WEIGHT
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Scale
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DOGFIGHTING MYTHS
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“Bait Dogs”
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“Trunking”
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Chain Chewers - Not Teeth Filed Down
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Investigative Techniques • Internet investigations – Facebook, Instagram, twitter, forums • Flyovers • Google maps • Undercover buys and CIs • Trash pulls • Pole cams • Probation Visits • Other agencies
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EVIDENCE PRESERVATION
. First, if working with social media, like . Requests should be made only by Facebook, do a Preservation Request asap. governmental entities authorized to (screenshots, while helpful to have, may not obtain evidence. always be enough) https://www.facebook.com/records/x/login /
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SOCIAL MEDIA WARRANTS
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Use Their words Against Them
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Pages For Specific Bloodlines
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Tattoos
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Online Pedigrees www.apbt.online-pedigrees.com
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Online Pedigrees
Humane Society of the United States
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Online Pedigrees
Humane Society of the United States
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Online Pedigrees
Humane Society of the United States
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Google maps
Humane Society of the United States
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Where do they live?
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Cell Phone Images
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Common Excuses and Defense
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THEY ARE FOR SHOW
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GR CH Southern Kennels Macho Buck
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I LOVE THE HISTORY OF APBT
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DOGS BROKE OFF CHAIN
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“I don’t fight my dogs, the wounds are from hog hunting.”
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Adult Hog with his Tusks
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Check For Protective Gear for Hog Hunting
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Break Sticks
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Weight Pull Ruse
CH LIBERTY FARM'S(TRENT'S) SADIE
BREEDER: LFK OWNER: T. NICKLES REGISTRATION #: ADBA SEX: FEMALE COLOR: BUCKSKIN W/WHITE CHAINWEIGHT: 39 ENTERED BY: libertyfarms POSTED: 2007-03-17 LAST MODIFIED: 2009-08-15 PEDIGREE HAS BEEN SEEN: 4858 TIMES
(4XW).... Last two weight pulls 1:22 & 26. Sister to Rocket(1xw) and Snoopy(1xw) and Miss Tux(destroyed two otc). One of the best out of an outstanding litter. Represents the best litter so far out of Garner's Kirby.
4 GENERATION PEDIGREE First Second Third Fourth
CH GARNER'S CHINAMAN (4XW) WOOD'S TROUBLE ROM ABERNATHY'S MOLLY ROM GARNER'S FRISCO ROM CH GARNER'S CHINAMAN (4XW)
(VINCE'S) ROMERO'S CHINA GIRL ROM HOBB'S TUFFY (1XW) (Sire) * GARNER'S KIRBY POR CH GARNER'S CHINAMAN (4XW) GARNER'S FRISCO ROM ROM
GARNER'S LADY (VINCE'S) ROMERO'S CHINA GIRL
PRINCESS CH GARNER'S CHINAMAN (4XW) (GARNER'S) MIDDLETON'S ROM
PRINCESS
MIDDLETON'S SMILEY
WILDSIDE'S HELLRAISER
DENNY'S OJ
DENNY'S PENNY
LAGASSE'S ROWDY-DOG
WALKER'S JACK THE RIPPER
TAYLOR'S MALIBU
(Dam) LIBERTY FARM'S SADIE AKA TRENT'S THUNDER CANNON'S SWEETIE
FOOT VAN HONK'S SILENT RESPECT
WATERS BAM BAM
WATER'S BRINDLE DRED
E. J. 'S MISTY
DUNN'S DESTINY CONAN
SMITHS FLY GIRL
DUNNS DESTINY MISHA Information stored in and displayed by: apbt.online-pedigrees.com
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Defense Experts and Other Experts
• “Former” dogfighters are often called as an expert for the defense.
• Veterinarian – the golden retrievers of the human world.
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Bluestar Forensic Bluestar Forensic is a reagent that reveals blood stains that may not be visible to the naked eye. Unlike luminol, Bluestar will not breakdown or destroy DNA.
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How Can HSUS and HSI Can Help
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HSI has an extensive database on dogfighters, confidential informants, and reference materials to help with animal fighting cases.
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Handle, remove, and document the animals, evidence, and provide an expert opinion.
HSUS provides in-depth trainings to law enforcement and prosecutors on animal crimes.
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QUESTIONS
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Thank you!
Janette Reever Program Manager, Global Anti-Dogfighting Cell: 240-252-8400 [email protected]
Thank you for all that you do to keep our communities safe!
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