The Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service (SCRAPS) has been investigating reports of dog fighting in the area. Last weekend SCRAPS issued a press release regarding a dog with extensive injuries that they euthanized.
WARNING: The press release has some disturbing language regarding the injuries to the dog SCRAPS found:
Possible Dog Fighting Ring in Spokane Area
Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service continues to investigate a possible dog-fighting ring in the City of Spokane Valley.
Earlier this month, an animal protection officer responded to a call at Trentwood Elementary. The officer found a pit bull tied to a dumpster covered in blood.
They took the animal veterinarian who saw old injuries as well as new wounds.
Unfortunately, they euthanized the dog due to the severity of its injuries.
$2500 Reward for Information about Dog Fighting
SCRAPS is asking any persons with information to please call them immediately at (509) 477-2532. Animal Cruelty 1st Degree (R.C.W. 16.52.2) and Animal Fighting (R.C.W. 16.52.117) are class C Felonies, punishable by five-years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000.
Since the story was released, the Humane Society of the United States is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of animal cruelty. In addition, private citizens have contacted SCRAPS today and have donated another $1,750, increasing the reward to a total of $4,250.
For more information, contact SCRAPS at (509) 477-2532 or go to www.spokanecounty.org/scraps.
Signs of Dog Fighting Activity
- Multiple pit bulls in one yard with locked and/or privacy fences. They are individually tied out, unable to reach other dogs.
- Dogs wearing tight thick collars.
- Dogs with scars on head, throat, legs, and ears
- Tires or pieces of leather suspended several feet off the ground from trees to provide jaw-strengthening activities
- Treadmills for exercising dogs
- Materials dog fighting pits are made out of: plywood panels with blood splatter, blood stained carpets
- Dogs leashed with heavy chains to metal posts in the ground with or without weights on their collars
- Frequently moving dogs in cages from a house
- People and dogs coming and going frequently from a site and gathered in “unusual” places such as an abandoned house, empty warehouse, residential basement, and barns
- Dogs forced to pull heavy items such as chains and tire rims to strengthen muscles
- Extreme, uncontrollable aggression towards other animals, especially other dogs
Robert Christerson says
No reward needed ..will get donated to real 501 c ..
Seattle DogSpot says
What do you mean?
David says
My dog was recently stolen in the Spokane Valley he ran away due to fireworks on the fourth but always returns this time no he’s a good size American Bulldog 70 75 lb but he looks like a pitbull I have a feeling that that’s what happened to him and it just breaks my heart something needs to be done anything to stop this thank you
Seattle DogSpot says
I’m sorry I hope you find him soon.
Barb says
This is old old news from several years back. It seems to be a problem in reality everywhere but this instance is not current news. I just confirmed with the director of SCRAPS.
Thought you’d want to know. ☺
Seattle DogSpot says
Right. It was posted in 2014.