Φλόριντα, Apopka, κύκλωμα κυνομαχιών -το μεγαλύτερο στην ιστορία της περιοχής- εξαρθρώθηκε μετά από δύο μηνών έρευνα, 34 τραυματισμένα σκυλιά οδηγήθηκαν σε καταφύγιο και 26 άτομα συνελήφθησαν. Η τύχη των ζώων δεν είναι ακόμα γνωστή,
Τα σκυλιά μάχονταν μέχρι θανάτου. Για την εκπαίδευσή τους, οι διοργανωτές των κυνομαχιών χρησιμοποιούσαν άλλα μικρά ζώα.
Βρέθηκαν εγκλωβισμένα κοτόπουλα, κουνέλια και ρακούν.
το σχετικό βίντεο στη διεύθυνση

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-dog-fighting-ring-apopka-20140528,0,3244608.story
http://www.clickorlando.com/news/dogfighting-ring-busted-in-apopka/26199674?item=0Twenty-six people were arrested in connection with a Central Florida dogfighting ring that included a treadmill, raccoon and up to 30 dogs, according to police.

http://www.clickorlando.com/blob/view/-/26212708/data/1/-/akk8k5z/-/Dogfighting-arrestees.pdf

Orlando Sentinel, Apopka Police Department / May 28, 2014
A mother and newly-born puppies were rescued from the Apopka home where dozens were arrested in a dog-fighting ring.

Twenty-six people have been arrested in connection with an Apopka dogfighting ring, the largest in the city's history. More than 20 dogs were removed late last night after a two-month investigation. Animal control will take possession of the dogs, but their fate is not known.

Apopka dogfighting ring: Animal Services to host adoption sale to make room for 34 rescue dogs

Orange County Animal Services employees rescued 34 dogs from an Apopka dogfighting ring Wednesday, and now they are asking for the public's help to make room at the shelter for these wounded canines.

The animal shelter is encouraging people to adopt one of its many other pets at a Saturday "Hot Dogs, Cool Cats" adoption sale. Standard adoption fees will be reduced to $15 for dogs and cats during the sale.

"We have many loving dogs and cats looking for families and placing these animals in forever homes would allow us more space to provide comfort for the animals taken in from the cruelty situation," said Dil Luther, Animal Services division manager.

Apopka Police walked in on an active dogfight at 209 W. 7^t^h St around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. A crowd of about 40 people fled the scene, but ultimately 26 men and women were caught, police said.

Those 26 spectators and participants were taken to Orange County Jail. As of today, most of them have bailed out.

Two of the arrestees — Adell Dawson, 39, and Benjamin Ponder, 26 — have prior cases involving animal cruelty or violating county nuisance animal ordinances.

Records show that Dawson and another arrestee, Mona Cumberland, live at the Apopka home, which officers called "filthy" and "deplorable" because of the pungent stench of animal feces and festering dog wounds.

Two children — who also live at the home — were removed and placed with their grandparents, according to police. The Department of Children and Families were notified, police spokeswoman Sgt. Kim Walsh said.

The Department of Children and Families is investigating possible child neglect at the home, spokeswoman Kristi Gray said Thursday.

This is a developing story.

twalden@tribune.com, or 407-420-5620
πηγή

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-dog-fighting-ring-first-appearance-20140529,0,5001166.story

I have a hard time watching the news in general—it never seems to have anything uplifting, or positive. It’s just all of the inhumanity and heartbreak in the world. This morning, as I was drinking my coffee, I watched, with my jaw open, as an Apopka dog-fighting ring was busted. I watched the dogs being carried off of the property. A home with treadmills, and training devices set up. But worse.. a home with toddler toys in the front yard, and dead dogs buried in the back

I’m thankful that we live in a society that animal abuse is more often being acknowledged as a federal crime, but what does it mean for these animals? These dogs that were tortured, trained, beaten, and chewed up. These dogs, were taught to be killers. They are fine with humans, but they are trained to attack other dogs. Many of them are fighting for their lives. All of them soon will be. Speculation is that they are at Orange County Animal Services right now, awaiting their

fate. They were posted early this morning, but then the links were immediately taken down.
When the raid went into the home the first of at least 4 fights was in session; one dog was carried out on a stretcher. He was in the worst shape physically, but all of the dogs were emaciated, chewed up, and angry.

Of course they were angry.

And we are all angry for them. Let’s do something about it. How can we make a change? How can we put an end to the massacres that happen to animals on a daily basis? This raid happened because of a neighbor. And somewhere around 20 dogs were saved from a life of

continued torture, but their fate is still questionable.

The dog fighting ring that was broken up last night was witnessed by two children. Both, were under the age of 6. They were being taught that animals are pawns in a game. It’s fine to torture animals. It’s okay to watch them suffer as sport.

This needs to end.

I can stand on my soap box, and make a broad statement. “SAVE THESE DOGS, ORLANDO!” And tell people that they should adopt these dogs—because, I do, genuinely want them to be saved.

But I want them to be saved by the right people, for the right reasons. These dogs will take someone patient, and strong. Someone willing to be the boss, and take the time to retrain them to know what a life is supposed to be like. Someone who has worked with animal aggressive dogs before, or someone who has the time to learn how to. These dogs need to be rehabilitated. They need a chance, like the Viktory dogs. Like Chum, who is still available for adoption, and has made huge strides in his rehabilitation- but still has work to do, and needs his forever to continue that work. (read more about his story here)

They all will have work to do, and so do we.

We need to speak up when we notice suspicious behavior. The expression “when you see something, say something” goes a long way. The raid last night was broke up because someone was suspicious, and heard growling, barking, and dogs crying in the backyard. They tipped off the police. They knew something was going on, and did something about it, and 26 people were arrested because of it.

We need to stop listing dogs for free on craigslist. Those dogs “free to a good home” end up as training bait for fighting dogs. Some of them end up in the ring fighting for their lives, but most of them, end up as bait for fighting dogs. They end up tortured and ultimately, dead.

We need to be diligent about spaying and neutering our pets. There is an overpopulation of animals, and orange county animal services is literally at capacity. Ya know those swanky night clubs you wait in line to get into on the weekends? The same rules apply here. “one in, one out”. When these animals came into the shelter late last night, where do you think they go? A lot of people say, well, I don’t want to neuter him but I’m always with him, so he will never get another dog pregnant.
πηγή
http://www.hypeorlando.com/the-dog-blog/2014/05/28/apopka-dog-fight/