ASPCA Rescues 50 Dogs in Bronx Dog Fighting Case

Friday, June 22, 2012 - 12:30pm
Puppy Rescued By Humane Law Enforcement

Nearly 50 dogs, ranging in age from 12 weeks to five years, were found yesterday living in the windowless basement of a six-story apartment building in the Bronx. The space, which served as a makeshift dog fighting arena, was littered with crude wooden cages and had the capacity for roughly 100 spectators. Raul Sanchez, the building’s superintendant, was taken into custody and charged with animal fighting, a felony.

Working closely with the NYPD Vice Enforcement Division and the Bronx District Attorney's Office, our team played a critical role in the rescue of the dogs, forensic evidence collection and on-scene documentation.

Also discovered on scene were a loaded .25-caliber handgun, U.S. currency, and other equipment associated with dog fighting—including dog treadmills, harnesses, muzzles, syringes and a shopping cart full of raw chicken parts.

"Organized dog fighting is a brutal form of animal abuse where dogs are exploited and forced to fight as their owners profit from their torture," says Howard Lawrence, Senior Director of Operations for the ASPCA’s Humane Law Enforcement. "The dogs we saw today exhibited scarring and injuries consistent with fighting dogs. We’re determined to protect New York City's animals from this form of cruelty."

The dogs, many of whom showed scars from fighting, were transported to a temporary shelter for further evaluation by our emergency response medical team. The ASPCA will continue to provide legal support to the Bronx District Attorney's Office to help prosecute the case.

The investigation is ongoing.

Tags: 
Animal Cruelty
Dog Fighting
Humane Law Enforcement

Comments

Sat, 06/23/2012 - 10:59 — antoinette (Visitor)
They rescue them from these dog fighters but I bet anything they will get put down at the shelter. They fought, got rescued and then most liketly will die at the shelters. The dogs didn't win.

Tue, 06/26/2012 - 04:35 — Frances (Visitor)
Unfortunately this is too true. The younger animals which are friendly may find homes but you have to remember these dogs have been trained to do nothing but rip other animals apart. Rehoming that kind of dog would cause so many problems, you would have to be so strict on new owners to make sure their new dog didn't end up killing their neighbours pets, it just wouldn't be feasible. The animals were saved from a lifetime of pain and torture, that is better than nothing. (I still don't think it's enough)

Fri, 06/29/2012 - 10:55 — Janet (Visitor)
Its an unfortunate fact of life that many of these dogs may be too far gone to rehabilitate and will have to be euthanized. After working in a shelter for several years I've have had to come to terms with this reality even though I hate the idea. Still euthanasia would be far better for these dogs than dying a long painful dead in the dog fighting ring!

Wed, 06/27/2012 - 14:25 — Mickey R (Visitor)
I am very disturbed with the Aspca's trigger finger. I very much appreciate all that you do but there have been quite a few incidences of dogs being euthanized to quickly. Does a certain Rottweiler come to mind? Please increase efforts to aid the ACC so less dogs are killed as opposed to the other way around.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 13:32 — Nina McNew (Visitor)
Thank you for rescuing these poor animals. God bless you all. Hopefully the people behind this inhumane treatment of innocent animals will be punished to the full extreme.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 21:07 — Debbie Schultheis (Visitor)
God Bless You for saving those poor babies Thank You :)

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 13:36 — Colleen Baird (Visitor)
Thank you for finding this horrible dog fighting basement. I can only wish that all the humans involved in this terrible form of entertainment and money making event will be punished to the fullest extent of the law. I hope everyone is caught and that karma comes back in double the pain. Fighting animals is horrible, dogs are man's best friends... Thank you ASPCA

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 13:37 — Dwayne (Visitor)
I hope these animals find a good home! I hope the abusers get sent to prison where they where THEY will be forced to fight.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 13:39 — kathy (Visitor)
You guys (NYPD, Bronx District Attorney's office, ASPCA, and the undercover person whom ever you may be) are awesome!!!! God bless you guys... You made my day a happy one!!!

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 13:42 — Jesse Armaline (Visitor)
Thank you to the ASPCA. I hope every dog is now safe & will get adopted into a loving home.

Sat, 06/23/2012 - 16:05 — Jeniffer kozlowski (Visitor)
They are NOT SAFE . The aspca chose to dump at least 17 of them in the HIGH KILL SHELTER IN NYCACC

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 13:46 — Katharine (Visitor)
Thank-you for all your hard efforts working toward the crueling inhumane person.. I hope they're able to trace down the rest of the others. Sad sad situations.. I pray for those precious pets finding a new homes,safe life & healing time. God Bless you ASPCA!

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 13:47 — Rachel (Visitor)
Please don't euthanize... Give the ones that can't be adopted out to Dog Town... They will rehabilitate and give these dogs a good life.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 14:00 — Linda Weiland (Visitor)
Nail these bastards to the wall, including the spectators. And a big, fat, fine for the owner of the building.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 14:00 — Melissa (Visitor)
At least 15 of these dogs are currently at the Manhattan kill shelter, NOT in the custody of ASPCA. I guess that's what they mean by "temporary shelter?" Manhattan Animal Care & Control is just a few blocks from the ASPCA but it is a world apart. The cages are tiny and filthy, with upper respiratory infections running rampant. It is so bad there, that dogs often die in their cages due to pneumonia (caused by kennel cough/URI caught at the very same facility). It is not only misleading but also unethical for ASPCA to be proclaiming that they "saved" these dogs, when all they did was pick them up and drop them off at a kill shelter that routinely euthanizes about 35% of all dogs who come in. While these dogs are stuck there on legal hold, other dogs will die in their place. This is disgusting. Please stop lying about your "rescue efforts" here in NYC and stop misleading people about where their money goes.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 22:42 — Stacia (Visitor)
I too am disheartened by the misleading content of this ASPCA article. The chances of these dogs being put down are very high. The ACC is a death trap for a large portion of dogs that pass through their doors, especially pit bulls because so many of them come through. I've heard of certain dogs only lasting THREE days at the ACC before being euthanized - THREE DAYS. And this is where the ASPCA sent these 'rescued' dogs. This is just a fund-raising campaign carefully crafted by the ASPCA. Don't support the ASPCA - support your local NO-KILL SHELTERS if you really want to save lives. In 2008 the ASPCA took in $85 million and spent $10 million on advertising. Do you know how many animals they saved? 4000. Which comes out to $18,750 per dog. If you want to do right by animals, don't believe the fallacies constantly put forth by the ASPCA. This article is the perfect example of such untruths.

Sat, 06/23/2012 - 11:30 — jill ashmore (Visitor)
if you look on this dogs thread it was there just 1 day ... i hadnt even seen it till it was dead https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=459367467409471&set=a.439889042690647.108734.152876678058553&type=3&theater

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 14:05 — Christine D. (Visitor)
These dogs are not safe whatsoever. Quite a few of these dogs were placed at the ACC in New York City. A disgusting filthy place where almost 1/2 of the dogs brought in are euthenized. If not adopted out, rescued or fostered, they usually end up with kennel cough, in which case these dogs will be slapped on the kill list as soon as the ACC is able to put them on it. These dogs ARE NOT safe by a long shot!!! Dogs already at the shelter are being killed to make room for these dogs. Look at the Urgent thread on facebook and see how many dogs they killed today...approx. 30 perfectly normal healthy dogs!!!!

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 14:05 — Pam (Visitor)
Thank you for everything you guys do.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 14:09 — monica (Visitor)
Please do not kill them! as for the organizer of these horrible dog fight seriously lock him up.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 14:11 — Deb (Visitor)
You know what else is "a brutal form of animal abuse "? Dumping these dogs at MACC where they are likely to get sick and where other dogs will be killed for space because of all these extra dogs. WIth your millions in funds, you can't put aside a better spot for confiscated animals to wait for evaluation? Not that you won't probably kill them anyway, but why take MACC dogs out, too?

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 18:51 — Debi (Visitor)
That's right! they will be KILLED in this facility! Happy...they were saved...? Read--"...they will be held temporarily..." Yes, until they get the needle.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 14:17 — Laura (Visitor)
These dogs that were "rescued" are already starting to be dumped at a high kill shelter, where they will kill a bunch of other dogs to make space. When the legal hold is up, those not pulled by rescues will be sick from the horrible conditions at the ACC. This will serve as justification for killing them too. Stop acting like heroes, when you are just dumping them and compounding the issues at the ACC.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 14:20 — Misty Harms (Visitor)
They should throw everyone in jail. The super, the owner of the building, the tenants of the building, the cowards that went to see the beautiful pups fight for their own life, and the neighbors of the building for being suck morons and not saying anything as 100 ppl came in and out of a basement! Rot in hell all of you!

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 14:24 — Kara (Visitor)
Thank you ASPCA for all that you do! Please tell me these DOGS are NOT IN KILL SHELTERS!!! The MONSTERS that abuse and fight these amazing creatures need to pay for what they've done. Thank you NYPD for helping these babies :)God Bless you All

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 14:26 — CowgirlTNJ (Visitor)
‎"Dear ASPCA, At least 15 of these dogs are currently at the Manhattan KILL shelter, NOT in the custody of ASPCA. I guess that's what they mean by "temporary shelter?" Manhattan Animal Care & Control is just a few blocks from the ASPCA but it is a world apart. The cages are tiny and filthy, with upper respiratory infections running rampant. It is so bad there, that dogs often die in their cages due to pneumonia (caused by kennel cough/URI caught at the very same facility). It is not only misleading but also unethical for ASPCA to be proclaiming that they "saved" these dogs, when all they did was pick them up and drop them off at a KILL shelter that routinely euthanizes about 35% of all dogs who come in. While these dogs are stuck there on legal hold, other dogs will die in their place. This is disgusting. Please stop lying about your "rescue efforts" here in NYC and stop misleading people about where their money goes."

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 14:27 — NYC_DogRescuer (Visitor)
How is dumping many of these dogs at high-kill NYC ACC considered "rescuing" them? From one hell hole to another? I hear many dogs had to be moved from MACC to already-full BACC to make room for these poor souls. Last night, there were 29 dogs on the euth list. How many of them did you save? Zero? Now you added 15+ more? I guess we should be expecting long euth lists again. When are you going to stop lying?!

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 14:31 — Alex de Campi (Visitor)
For shame, ASPCA. You took these dogs and dumped some of them -- including 4 week old puppies -- at the kill shelter 10 blocks down the road from your shiny office building. You haven't saved them, you've CONDEMNED them to sickness and then, within three days, being killed without sedative at the ACC. Go back to doing what you do best, selling pet insurance, because you sure as hell aren't SAVING these dogs. You're just transporting them from one bad situation to another. Anyone who doesn't believe me, go to NYCACC.org and inquire about these dogs, all on the First Alerts yesterday: JO 93626, JACK 936271, GETTY 936272, BLUE 936276, RONNIE 936276, LEO 936282, BETTY 936283, LISA 936284, JOHN 936286, GABY 936287, SWEETIE 936288, ELSA 936289, KATTY 936290, DORA 936291, TARA 936293

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 21:34 — Michelle (Visitor)
please tell me this is not true! are you really taking them to a kill shelter? Oh my God, Lord please don't tell me the people we all thought we could trust in to help those in need, the one who advertise's "we are their voice", those whoe have commercials on tv and take donations from people like me who LOVE animals and pray for someone like you (who we thought was doing awesome work)to save them is taking them to a kill shelter, your not any better, what has happened to this world, lord please do not let this continue....I am so sadden to hear this, I trusted in you, believed in you, looked up to your for the work I thought you were doing, what a disappointment, om my Lord, what a disappointment........

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 14:33 — Julia Ferris (Visitor)
People should know the ASPCA, (an organization that collects millions in donations) COULD have rescued all of these poor, abused pups, but instead, they chose to already start dumping them on an overburdened high-kill shelter-- the NYC ACC. Once at the NYC ACC, they will most likely succumb to an illness and then be put on a euthanasia (KiLL) list, and be killed.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 14:34 — Cyndee (Visitor)
I sure hope that all the dogs and puppies are properly evaluated and able to live normal lives. I would hate to see them in shelters like other pit bulls who get put down every single day.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 14:41 — Chanel & Family (Visitor)
These dogs are not yet safe! They were taken from one hell hole and then dumped into another. This illusion of safety is ridiculous. The public has been duped by the ASPCA into thinking that these dogs are safe when many of them have actually been taken to a kill shelter riddled with sickness and filth. There they will be assessed while terrified and then either offered up for rescue or adoption as the clock ticks. Some will ultimately be placed on the euthanasia list. I am sorry, but I do not believe that this is saving dogs. I am not as gullible and naive as the general public. I have been there and seen the truth. Why can they not tell the truth? Ask questions people!!!

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 14:47 — lori (Visitor)
Killing is not rescue. You people are not rescuing 50 dogs. You are taking them from a bad situation to a sure death. My family and friends are NEVER making any donations to your shit organization until it is a NO KILL organization with a plan to use some of your millions of dollars to save every animal you get your hands on.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 14:49 — Jeff Sikora (Visitor)
Rescuing these puppies is not turning them over to NYC's ACC high kill facilities. If you want to truly rescue these dogs bring them over to your mulimillion dollar facility. Save them the cruel and agonizing death from filth and disease - or the needle which ever gets them first. Shame on you - sorry to have been a supporter.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 14:53 — mary (Visitor)
NO FINES. NO JAIL TIME. NO PENALTIES. Enough is enough. As an animal rescue volunteer, I see horrific situations like this constantly, things that would make the strongest person weep. I have grown disgusted with some of the human race and with that said, the only way we will stop this abuse is to exterminate the sociopaths involved with animal abuse, dog fighting and exploitation. Behind evil and greed, you will find unscrupulous humans lurking. The human race decided to domesticate animals; we are now responsible for their well being. The world will fare better if we euthansize these idiots and spare the innocent animals.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 15:03 — Beth (Visitor)
I feel so sorry for those babies. Thank the lord that ASPCA rescued them. I couldn't ever think of watching dogs fight to the death. Thank you ASPCA!

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 15:11 — Jeniffer kozlowski (Visitor)
Before you thank the ASPCA for "saving" these dogs why don't you ask them what they did with the dogs? At least 15 dogs so far have bbeen dumped by the ASPCA in a filthy germ infested high kill shelter in New York City, Manhattan Animal Care and Control. This morning MACC killed 32 dogs to make space for the dogs dumped by the ASPCA. These dogs will now lanuish in a filthy cage ALONE without human care or love or contact for WEEKS on DOH hold before being euthanized. THIS IS NOT A RESCUE, THIS IS NOT SAVING DOGS. The dogs have led a horrible life and now the ASPCA punishes the dogs not the owners. SICKENING

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 15:15 — Rachel (Visitor)
These jerks don't care about fines, they won't pay them anyway. Until they sit in prison for this type of behavoir, nothing will change. They have no hearts, they have no souls.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 15:23 — Tracy Huddleson (Visitor)
I'd love to know how this was discovered! Thanks to all who put a stop to this brutality.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 15:28 — michele (Visitor)
i understand you took only ONE DOG!? IS THIS TRUE!!!! the rest are at macc and acc!!!

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 15:41 — CowgirlTNJ (Visitor)
In the words of a friend. I couldn't have said it better: I'm sure you have all see/read about this in the news about a dogfighting ring busted in the Bronx – abt 50 dogs. The ASPCA held a slick press conference bringing out cute puppy, after cute puppy being safely cradled in the arms of an ASPCA employee. The ASPCA receives MILLIONS of dollars in donations creating tear jerking commercials "in the arms of an angel" and have a state of art high tech medical facility. Good for them. What disgusts me is that they say, "These dogs are now safe." Where are they? Well, about 20 of them have been dumped at the ACC, a high kill, extremely underfunded, diseases infested hell hole(which I happen to volunteer at). The ASPCA does some good work, but given the size and scope of the budget and power it’s shameful they did this and are taking credit for “saving” these dogs. Last night, the euthanasia list was 32 dogs at the ACC to make space for these dogs the ASPCA “saved”. If you want to donate to an animal welfare group, please consider giving to small rescue groups that live on shoestring budgets, take in dogs they(ASPCA) would refuse because they weren’t “highly adoptable”, and place them in great homes.

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 15:43 — Kim (Visitor)
Thank god for the ASPCA and all the work they do in rescuing!

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 15:46 — alexis (Visitor)
You say you rescued the dog.....you saved them from being trained to fight BUT they are gonna be dumped into your high kill shelter and euthanized before they even have a CHANCE to find a loving home........

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 15:47 — Alma G. (Visitor)
Once again, I am disgusted at you - the nyc aspca, an Org. who gets tons of millions of dollars in donations & whom I once contributed to on a monthly basis, until my eyes were personally opened up. Yes, kudos to you for getting these voiceless Bronx, NY 50 dogs out of HELL, but shame on you for dumping some of them at the already overcrowded, severely germ infested (with multiple highly resistant strains running rampant) nyc acc shelter, as you claim 'a temp shelter facility.' SHAME ON YOU!! Are you really believing that these dogs will get satisfactory medical evaluations, your claim why you sent these dogs to Manh nyc acc? They are barely, adequately taking care of the animals already in their care, nyc acc animals are getting sub-standard vet care!! With all your money nyc aspca, you needed to send these dogs to REAL vets, to get real medicals & network them for rescue groups? Dog Town is reaching out to you, to help these dogs. Or will you once again, do what you did with the young dog Oreo a few years ago, thrown off a 6th FL buildings roof, whose 2 broken legs you had fixed, then you held him for 6 months during his legal hold, but when YOU deemed him unadoptable & aggressive, you repeatedly ignored a rescue group 'Pets Alive' repeated phone calls & emails, then claimed they never contacted you? LIES!! I and many others saw the many emails Pets Alive sent your Org. YOU need to get these dogs back out of nyc acc asap, get them to true safety & return the many phone calls & emails offering rescue help, not do what you did in Oreo's case. @Dog Town, I hope you & many other reputable rehab rescues can get these dogs, help them & not face what others have faced, a BRICK wall. I truly hope ALL these dogs are gotten to true safety, but as long as they stay inside any of the nyc acc shelters, they will get severely, quickly very sick & the many others at these severely already overcrowded nyc acc's will go on their euth list, sooner then planned, for their only allowable reasons (or face losing important funding resources) ILLNESS & BEHAVIOR. NO DOGS IN ANY COMPROMISED HEALTH SHOULD GO INTO ANY NYC ACC'S, FOR ANY REASON! NYC ASPCA- you need to spend some of your very large budget money, get these dogs back out of Manh acc & stop using the already underfunded nyc acc budget money!! WAKE UP NY'ERS & EVERYONE IN THE USA, WHERE IS ALL YOUR DONATIONS REALLY GOING, TO ADVERTISING & MEDIA COMMERCIALS?

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 15:57 — jane linley bennett (Visitor)
i am more than willing to drive to the city and rescue some of them.....WTH....and i thought they were SAFE!!!!!

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 15:55 — jane linley bennett (Visitor)
Thank God they found them.....those bastards for fighting such beautiful babies....where are they being kept...and thank God for you guys!!!!!!! BIGTIME

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 15:57 — Sloan vonSpiessbach (Visitor)
I will reposted my comment since it was deleted from the ASPCA fb page. Why did the ASPCA instantly dump these dogs at the NYACC ( as soon as the photo-op was over) to be killed and/or have other dogs killed in their place for cage space? Why did the ASPCA NOT take them to your facility? It certainly isn't a lack of funding. How many other charities have a nine figure annual revenue... Why are all of the ASPCA's "rescues" just transporting dogs to local HIGH KILL shelters?

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 16:13 — Sarah (Visitor)
Thank God these poor babies are not having to fight anymore. However, now what? Are they going to be euthanized? They should be treated, pampered and then released to loving homes!!!! It's NOT the breed, it's the stupid Moran people that corrupt this beautiful, loving animal!!!! GOD BLESS ALL of these POOR BABIES!!!!

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 16:20 — Elizabeth Shafiroff (Visitor)
the aspca are liarssssssss! What a joke!

Fri, 06/22/2012 - 16:22 — Jodi (Visitor)
Glad to see most everyone is feeling the same way I am about this supposed "help" the ASPCA gave these dogs. I'm sure many of them will be on the "To Be Destroyed" List from the NYCACC and at urgentdeathrowdogs.org in minimal time. Hopefully a rescue or someone in that area truly helps these poor dogs from further harm.

Pages

Post new comment