Police Rescue 89 Pooches And Arrest 10 Men In Suffolk County In One Of The Largest Crackdown On Dogfighting Operation In New York State History

Police on Monday rescued 89 dogs and arrested 10 men in Suffolk County as part of a state-wide crackdown on dogfighting operation in New York.

Investigation by several local, county and state law enforcement agencies revealed that the dog fighting operation spanned from Long Island, New York City, Connecticut and Massachusetts, and included breeding, training and illegal fighting of pit bulls.

The investigation, which began in early 2021, revealed that the defendants prepare pups as young as six months old for practice fights or “rolls” to determine their fighting potential. Throughout their adult lives, the dogs were subject to cruel living conditions and forced to train voraciously for fights.

Once a dog was deemed prepared to fight, a “broker” would organize based on the dog’s height and weight, officials said. A willing opponent would pay a buy-in fee or “forfeit” to enter their dog into the fight, officials said. The victorious dog owner would receive all of the winnings.

Others would bet on the outcomes of the violent fights, in which the dogs can be seriously injured or killed. Dogs that were seriously injured or underperformed were killed by the defendants, the investigation found.

The defendants would also make money breeding and selling dogs deemed to have good fighting genes.

Nine residents in Suffolk County, three in Nassau County and one in Brooklyn were searched on July 31 and Aug. 1, where 81 dogs were rescued. An additional eight dogs were rescued in Connecticut.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals helped in the recovery of the dogs, who were found in awful living conditions in basements, garages and sheds. Some had no food or water.

“Many of the dogs displayed various medical conditions consistent with dogfighting, including scarring and broken teeth, and were exhibiting fearful behavior,” the DA’s office said.

Searches revealed disturbing dog-fighting paraphernalia, according to officials, including “rape stands,” used to immobilize female dogs for breeding, skin staplers, steroids and supplements, devices used to electrocute dogs, “break sticks” used to break up fights, and dog training equipment like treadmills.

The ten defendants, whose ages range from 32-80, each face a maximum sentence of up to 4 years in prison, a fine of up to $25,000, or both, officials said. One defendant faces up to 20 years for additional drug possession charges.

A special grand jury will investigate the case, Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini said, to make future legal recommendations on effective animal cruelty prevention.

“The Special Grand Jury will be considering recommendations we can make to strengthen the laws on animal cruelty and further protect animals from this kind of senseless abuse,” he said. “We need to hold these bad actors accountable for their violent actions and these crimes need to be treated seriously under our law.”

“We will not tolerate these types of crimes – crimes that injure and, in many cases, result in the death of vulnerable animals,” Sini said in a statement. “Many of us have dogs as pets in our homes and we love them as another family member. This case is about how a criminal network bred dogs, tortured them, and put them in serious harm’s way just to make a buck.

“These arrests represent a significant blow to dogfighting, certainly here on Long Island and we believe it will have impacts throughout the Northeast.”

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea chipped in saying “The NYPD will continue to enforce the laws that protect animals and ensure those who abuse them are brought to justice.”

Elizabeth Brandler, Senior Counsel for ASPCA Legal Advocacy & Investigations said, “This brutal case involving dozens of victimized animals demonstrates that dogfighting persists in every corner of America, requiring that we remain diligent in our effort to eradicate animal fighting across the country”.

“We are grateful that the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and Suffolk County Police Department chose to work with us on this complex case and for their commitment to stopping these despicable crimes, rescuing the animals involved, and bringing the perpetrators to justice.”