3-27-2007

It sounds like something out of Miami Vice. Dozens of agents from all over the country, SWAT teams all waiting to burst onto the scene of some big illegal activity. It's not a big budget blockbuster, it's the real-life story that Mark Wells lived this weekend.

Wells is the lead investigator for the Oregon Humane Society. At times when other states have major animal abuse or neglect problems, they ask OHS for help. Wells, along with four other employees of OHS were sent to Ohio to help bust a major dog fighting network.

One of the amazing things about the bust was the level of secrecy it required. Some of the team members couldn't even be told WHERE they were going or WHY until they finally reached the destination. Wells says that dog fighters are connected all over the nation. Word could, theoretically reach someone in Oregon and then be leaked to Ohio negating the year long investigation.

Luckily, the mission was kept hush hush until investigators could arrive on the scene. In all, 64 dogs (mostly pit bulls) were recovered. Many of them were heavily scarred, unable to walk on all four legs. One even had its lower jaw ripped off. OHS employees explained to me that dog fights can last hours and the animals are trained heavily over long periods of time. Dog Fight trainers often wager on the bouts and some view it as a sport and a hobby.

This hobby is a felony in 48 states and comes with heavy jail time.

Investigators rounded up a couple dozen participants all of whom are facing charges. The future of the 64 dogs remains uncertain. Because of their aggressive behavior and tendencies that come from their fight training, they are difficult to adopt out. Wells cannot say how things are run in Ohio, but in Oregon these animals would likely be euthanized.