Houston Horror

I thought we were done with dogfighting after the Michael Vick horror but according to KPRC in Houston, fifty five people have been charged in what is believed to be one of the largest dogfighting operations in the United States.

Harris County District Attorney Kenneth Magidson reports that more than 100 dogs, bred specifically to fight, were seized along with a horse and a snake that may have been used for "training." The yearlong investigation into this group's illegal activities was headed up by the Texas Department of Public Safety's Criminal Intelligence Service.

According to the investigators, the fights were staged regularly (weekly or bi-monthly) at one of eight secluded sites and fifteen to 100 people attended these events. "The spectators were there for the entertainment value. The people who were putting on the events are there to make money," said Lisa Block of the Department of Pubic Service.

Apparently the leading perpetrator maintained the "front" that he was showing and hunting his dogs, and managed to fool most of his neighbors. However, the investigation began when someone called in a tip.

"This is the largest dogfighting investigation that the USDA's office of Inspector General has worked on in the Southwest," said Abelino Farias, Jr. the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture's Special Agent in Charge. Forty one felony charges were filed, mostly for engaging in dogfighting but forty-five other charges were also filed for the misdemeanor of being a spectator at a dogfight.

It is absolutely vile and disgusting to believe that people engage in this type of illegal activity and even more horrific to realize what some people will do for money.