1. Illegal Animal Fighting Law
Enforcement Primer
From the HSUS Final Round

2. DOG FIGHTING
• (1) Formal agreement months in advance
Size of bet depends on whether dogs are
champions or if owners are prominent
(2) Informal Side Bets
Usually continue throughout the match

3. COCKFIGHTING
• (1) Pay a predetermined entry fee
• (2) Side bets as with dog fighting
• (3) Lottery based on a number randomly given
to the cock fighter when he/she pays

4. Raffles
Winners can receive cash,
cockfighting paraphernalia, guns, or
animals as prizes

5. Enforcement of Animal Fighting Laws
• You need a lot of law enforcement personnel
on the scene.
– Detain and arrest
– Preserve evidence (and later present it)

6. GUIDELINES!
• (1) Arrest only if there is no reasonable doubt.
– You will come upon a scene with dozens of
individuals present.

7. GUIDELINES!
• (2) Photograph each suspect arrested with a
number and with the arresting officer.
– The arresting officer may later have to testify in
court.

8. GUIDELINES!
• (3) Be sure officer’s report includes what the
suspect was doing and where the suspect was.
• (4) Videotape the scene.

9. GUIDELINES!
• (5) When questioning persons on the
scene, stick with general on the scene
questioning, otherwise you need to provide
Miranda warnings.
– If you progress beyond general questioning
without Miranda warnings and there appears to
be a restraint on freedom of the suspect, the
statements may be thrown out in court.

10. What are some “on the scene”
questions?
• (1) Why are you here?
– Think about this. If they are out in a remote
location, why would they be there other than to
view or participate in a fight?

11. What are some “on the scene”
questions?
• (2) How did you get here? Who did you come
with? How were you going to leave?
– This can establish a relationship of a suspect to
others who are present.

12. GUIDELINES!
• (3) What did you see? How long did you see
this?
– This can establish duration of presence.

13. The Players
Who participates in dog fighting?

14. Promoters
• Makes the arrangements
• Usually owns location
• Finds referees
• Supplies pit, wash tubs, scales
• Collects admission fees
• Arrange for vendors, food and liquor
sales, gambling
• Monitor police scanners
• May hire armed guards

15. Handlers
• Handles animals during the fight
• If not the owner, usually gets a percentage of
the bet if the animal wins

16. Referee
• Needs to be well versed in the rules
• Maybe someone whose name is famous in
dog fighting circles
• Travel expenses, meals, lodging and fight fee
are taken care of by promoter
• May get as much as $500-$1000 per day if a
major fight or convention

17. Spectators
• Why?
– To gamble
– “Support” a friend, spouse or relative
– Enter an animal
– Just for the fun of it…
– Any age, sex, race, socioeconomic status

18. Profile of a Dogfighter
• Serious (professional)
• Hobbyists
• Street Fighters

19. Professional
• Can be national or even international
• Featured in underground publications
• Know strategies of humane organizations and
law enforcement techniques
• High stakes matches with established
bloodlines

20. Hobbyists
• Emphasis on gambling than continuing
“game” bloodlines through selective breeding
• Dogs of average ability
• Idea is to regain purchase price of the dog(s)
by winning matches

21. Street Fighters
• Ownership of pit bulls and mixes has
increased among juveniles and gang members
• Dogs are frequently stolen or obtained from
local shelters that have less than rigorous
adoption policies
• Can happen in public parks, playgrounds, back
alleys
• Why is this group hard to apprehend?

22. Behavior of fighting dogs

23. Behavior of Fighting Dogs
• Aggression against other dogs and animals
– Not natural!
– “Totally abnormal from an evolutionary
standpoint as it requires suppression of an
animal’s instinct for self-preservation”
– A dog’s natural instinct to back down in a fight
once an opponent withdraws has been
suppressed through years of breeding with the
ultimate goal of creating dogs who will fight to the
death.

24. Dog Communication
• For example, rolling over to expose the
underbelly is usually a way dogs say “ok let’s
stop this banter”.
– Fighting dogs will continue attacking other dogs
who do this.

25. Fighting Dogs
• Lack of uniform standards of temperament
• Lack of natural “back down” inhibition to
aggression
• Strength and tenacity
• Failure to show warning signs of attack
• Best course of action for law enforcement or
animal control: proceed with great caution

26. Schooling, Training and
Conditioning of Dogs

27. Schooling, Training and Conditioning
• Extensive culling only keeps puppies who
show aggressive behavior
– 16-18 months pass
– If they survive this they become “schooled”.

28. Game Test
• Younger dog is pitted against a larger, rougher
dog until totally exhausted
– Younger dog then must go to a fresh dog – the
idea being fight more than one dog in succession
– This test shows the dog’s level of “gameness” or
genetically programmed behavior

29. The Keep
Designed to build strength,
endurance, and cardiovascular
fitness

30. The Keep: Training
• Daily log: body weight, food and water, drugs
and vitamins and exercise
• Treadmills – 2 types
– Slat mills: running surface is wooden slats
– Carpet mills: running surface made of carpet

31. Catmill (jenny)

32. Training
Springpole Flirtpole

33. Vitamins, Drugs, and Veterinary
Supplies
Page 15

34. The Fight
• Most occur on Friday or Saturday nights
• If a big gathering (“convention”) with several
matches, it may occur on a holiday so out of
towners can attend and out of state license
plates are not considered suspect.
– Pit sites are frequently moved
• Southern Climates – wooded areas
• Colder climates- barns and sheds
• Basements or garages

35. The Fight
• Police scanners and cellular phones are used
as security precautions
• Escape routes are usually identified
• Usually a “social hour” or two prior to the
match so newcomers can be scrutinized

36. The Fight
• Before the pit, dogs are weighed
• Handlers wash and examine opponent’s dog
with referee supervising
– There may be poison or caustic substances which
is cheating.

37. The Fight
A pit usually
measures 14-20
square feet and
has walls 24-36
inches high. It
can be made of
wood, hay, or
other makeshift
materials.

38. Why would local trophy companies
be a good source of investigative
information?
Award or trophies are sometimes
given for “Best in Show” or “Gamest
of Show”

39. Investigative Techniques
• Dogfighting is a felony in all 50 states and the
District of Columbia.
– From The Peta Files, March 2008: As of this week, when Wyoming Governor
Dave Freudenthal signed legislation to make dogfighting a felony in his state
(following Idaho’s similar decision last week), every state in the U.S. considers
participating in dogfighting to be a felony offense. A huge thank you to the
governors of both of these states for taking this compassionate step forward.

40. If you’re going to bring these people
down, what would be critical?
AN INFORMANT

41. Dog fighters
Fraternity type atmosphere
Fear of retaliation to discourage informants
Double life: legitimate activities or legal dog shows

42. Investigative Techniques
• Dogfighters often keep evidence on the
property where dogs are confined and in
homes.
– So how do you get probable cause for a search
warrant?
• Surveillance
• First hand testimony

43. Underground Dog Fighting
Publications
• Good source for investigators
– Some difficult to get because they require a
sponsor to get a subscription
• Include fight reports, advertisements from “proven”
stock, dogs for match (fighting), and paraphernalia
Sporting Dog Journal

44. Why are weight pulling contests a
good place for investigators to
attend?

45. Multijurisdictional Task Force
• Humane societies, animal control, law
enforcement
– See the ASPCA’s guide to creating a such task force
(thank you Robin!)

46. Street Fighting
-ON THE RISE
-PERPS CAN LEAVE SCENE PRETTY EASILY

47. STREET FIGHTING
• With these street fights you often have rival
gangs meeting in school yards, parks, woods,
abandoned buildings
• The dogs may involve breeds other than pit
bulls
• Includes attacks against stray or stolen cats
and dogs

48. STREET FIGHTING
• Law enforcement will rarely just come upon
this
• Usually requires a report from someone in the
neighborhood
– People need to know their reports will be taken
seriously.

49. Combating Street Fighting
• Participants may be breaking other local or
state laws such as:
– Licensing and rabies laws
• In New York State (Article 7 of Ag. & Mkts.), all dogs
over the age of 4 months
– § 109. Licensing of dogs required; rabies vaccination required.
1. (a) The owner of any dog reaching the age of four months
shall immediately make application for a dog license.

50. Combating Street Fighting
• Participants may be breaking other local or
state laws such as:
– Dangerous Dog Laws
• (NY Agriculture and Markets Law, Article 7, Sec. 123)
• Hearing process

51. Combating Street Fighting
• Participants may be breaking other local or
state laws such as:
– Chaining Laws/Ordinances
• Tethering banned in many states and communities in
U.S.

52. Combating Street Fighting
• Participants may be breaking other local or
state laws such as:
– Laws that define dangerous dogs as “deadly
weapons” or “dangerous instruments”
• Charges can range from assault to murder if someone
uses their dog to threaten, injure or kill others

53. “Street fighters are, by definition,
irresponsible dog owners.
Any effort to increase enforcement of laws that
hold owners responsible for the actions of their
animals can be effective in controlling this
growing problem.”
The Humane Society of the United States

54. Confiscation, Identification, and
Disposition of Fighting Dogs
Dogs in such cases must be treated as
abused animals who must be removed
for their protection and as evidence in a
criminal case.

55. NYSHA Manual
New York State Humane Association

56. Confiscation, Identification, • All dogs in as evidence
and Disposition of Fighting
Dogs
should be photographed
and identified.
– Chain of custody
– Liability of shelter

57. Section 373 (6) (b) (2)
• If the court orders the posting of a security, the
security shall be posted with the clerk of the court
within five business days of the hearing provided
for in subparagraph one of this paragraph. The
court may order the immediate forfeiture of the
seized animal to the impounding organization if
the person ordered to post the security fails to do
so. Any animal forfeited shall be made available
for adoption or euthanized subject to subdivision
seven-a of section one hundred seventeen of this
chapter or section three hundred seventy-four of
this article.

58. If a fight is in progress…
• Law enforcement team leader should instruct
whoever is with the dogs in the ring to
separate the dogs and go to opposite corners
of the pit.
• Or, in the alternative, the entry team can be
followed by two dog control officers or anyone
who is experienced with controlling dogs

59. Confiscation, Identification, and
Disposition of Fighting Dogs
• A detailed record of each animal’s condition as
originally found is a must.
– This should occur as soon as possible after the site
has been secured. Additional photographs should
be taken as necessary to clearly show injuries and
markings.

60. Confiscation, Identification, and
Disposition of Fighting Dogs
• Use colored film.
• HSUS recommends a diagram of each animal
to include breed, sex, color, weight and any
distinguishing features. Appendix IV.

61. Confiscation, Identification, and
Disposition of Fighting Dogs
• Create a file for each animal.
– Include photographs, diagrams, medical records
and any pertinent information
– DUPLICATE the files and pictures. Keep the
originals in a safe place.

62. If suspects are being held at the scene
• Take caution NOT to ask suspects to identify or
claim ownership of the dogs.
– This could be considered a violation of their 4th
Amendment rights if suspect is not given Miranda
warnings.

63. Confiscation, Identification, and
Disposition of Fighting Dogs
• Transport and house separately
• Carcasses of dead dogs should be preserved
as evidence for trial.
• Bring severely injured dogs directly to vet
– A DETAILED RECORD OF ALL INJURIES SHOULD BE
DOCUMENTED BY THE EXAMINING VET

64. Humane Society of the United States
ANIMAL FIGHTING RESOURCES
(FROM ANIMAL SHELTERING)

65. Now what? What do we do with
the animals?
HSUS position PRIOR TO THE VICK
CASE

66. SEARCH WARRANTS
For information on search warrants, click here and scroll down to the
four part search warrant presentation.