Animal Welfare Groups Announce New Collaboration to Save Pit Bulls

	Pit bulls are the true victims of dogfighting. ©The HSUS/Maxwell

A summit meeting on pit bulls and other canine victims of animal fighting led to a coalition of groups working together to help the true victims of this organized violence.

Best Friends Animal Society, The Humane Society of the United States and other animal protection organization met in Las Vegas earlier this week to discuss the dispotion of dogs seized from dogfighting operations.

Among the outcomes of the meeting:

• The HSUS has a new policy of recommending that all dogs seized from fighting operations be professionally evaluated, according to agreed upon standards, to determine whether they are suitable candidates for adoption, and that dogs deemed suitable for placement should be offered as appropriate for adoption or to approved rescue organizations. The HSUS will update its law enforcement training manual and other materials to reflect this change in policy.
  
  
  
• The groups agree that all dogs should be treated as individuals, and they are the true victims of this organized crime. They also agree to support law enforcement and animal control agencies when decisions must be made regarding the dogs deemed unsuitable for adoption and in cases when rescue organizations and adopters are unable, within a reasonable time frame, to accept dogs from such raids that have been offered for adoption.
  
  
  
• The organizations will form a working group to develop future protocols for cooperation in addressing the needs of dogs seized in raids, such as how to assist with the housing of fighting dogs, how to conduct professional evaluations and how to screen potential adopters.

The summit meeting was convened to address the matter of dogs seized as a result of cruelty investigations, particularly due to the increase in HSUS-led enforcement actions against dogfighters.

Participants at the meeting included Best Friends Animal Society, The Humane Society of the United States, BAD RAP, ASPCA, National Animal Control Association, Maddie's Fund, Nevada Humane Society and Spartanburg Humane Society.

Related Links

Dogfighting Fact Sheet

Ranking of State Dogfighting Laws

Taking Action to End Dogfighting: How to Spot the Signs and What You Can Do