TOLEDO, Ohio — An investigation is underway for an alleged dog fighting ring discovered in north Toledo Thursday. According to a local animal shelter, dog fighting is a problem in northwest Ohio and can happen anywhere, from cities to suburbs and beyond.
A representative with Lucas County Canine Care and Control (LC4), a dog shelter in Toledo, said they assisted in the recovery of 36 dogs from multiple homes in north Toledo. Alongside Toledo police, the Toledo Area Humane Society and the USDA, LC4 assisted in conducting search warrants on May 30.
The search resulted in the recover of 36 dogs, police said. Charges in the case are still pending.
LC4 said this could just be the tip of the iceberg for crime in this area, and they encourage the community to stay vigilant. Experts said they believe one ring is a sign of multiple, along with drug trafficking, gun trafficking and other crimes.
Cassie Bloomfield with LC4 said she has been in animal welfare for over 15 years and recovering dogs in this condition is never easy.
"Dog fighting is cruel," said Bloomfield, who works as the organization's community outreach coordinator. "These are living, breathing beings with feelings and emotions, and they just want to be loved and they want to be your companion. They don't want to do these behaviors, and it' horrible and its cruel. It makes me sick to my stomach to think about the trauma and the pain that these poor dogs go through."
According to the Humane Society of the United States, the injuries that happen in dog fights are severe and often fatal. Fights average one to two hours, ending when one of the dogs cannot continue.
The dogs used in the majority of these fights have been specifically bred and trained for fighting and their upbringing relies on abuse and mistreatment from the moment they are born, the organization said, adding that typical injuries of fighting dogs include severe bruising, deep puncture wounds and broken bones.
Bloomfield said it's important to avoid prejudice in these crimes. She said the fact is it can happen anywhere and there is no one race or geographic area behind dog fighting.
"Dog fighting in prevalent in our community. A lot of people don't realize that. It's in cities. It's in suburbs. It's in the country, rural areas. It's everywhere. And a lot of times you don't realize it's happening in your backyard or your next-door neighbor. But sometimes it is," said Bloomfield.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, dog fighting is a felony in all 50 states.
You can report a suspected ring to your local police and to local shelters.
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