*****THIS ALERT IS NO LONGER ACTIVE*****
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2 SAMPLE LETTERS IN THIS ALERT:
TO: Stoddard County Officials - Fully Penalize Dogfighters
TO: Humane Society Of Missouri - Spare The Dogs
SAMPLE LETTER #1: Stoddard County Officials
Prosecuting Attorney Welborn, Sheriff Hefner, SEMO, and Missouri State Highway Patrol:
I wholly commend your unified effort in the bust of a dogfighting ring outside Dexter in Stoddard County, Missouri. Due to your diligence,
25 pit bulls, one beagle, and assorted dogfighting paraphernalia were confiscated from a barn used by alleged dogfighters Jessey Short, 30, of
Cape Girardeau, Mo., Curtis Pickering, 28, of South Fulton, Tenn., and Jamie Sifford, 29, of Dudley, Mo.
As typical in raids, investigators found treadmills, vials, syringes, break-sticks to disengage a pit bull's deadly jaw clench, and even
documentation of matches, rankings, breeding stock and prizefighters. The accused dogfighters played their dogs in a horse stall covered in
blood sodden carpet.
According to Tim Rickey, the Humane Society of Missouri's Director of Rescues & Investigations, the volume of seized dogs and fighting
gear renders this the largest Missouri raid in the last five years. The dogs' scars, bite wounds and lacerated ears are testimony to their lives of
coerced violence and abuse.
In the aftermath of Michael Vick's high profile case, an informed public wants penalties commensurate with the brutal crime of
dogfighting. Short, Pickering, and Sifford are booked on charges of dogfighting, a felony in Missouri. I urge the Stoddard County Prosecuting
Attorney to take a no-lenience stance on dogfighting and animal cruelty. Please seek maximum incarceration and fines. In addition, the
offenders should be barred from possessing, merchandising, or living alongside animals in any context.
More illicit activity is certain to emerge. Animal fighting is commonly associated with illegal gambling, drug trafficking, arms smuggling,
money laundering, and acts of human violence. Please charge Short, Pickering, and Sifford accordingly, as any new evidence unfolds.
Furthermore, I am concerned about the beagle also found during the raid. Dogfighters routinely use "bait" animals to arouse aggression in
pit bulls. Small dogs, cats, rabbits or chickens may be strung to poles and twirled like toys until a fight dog fatally mauls them. For a practice
fight, or "roll," handlers mismatch a submissive animal with an aggressor.
Dogfighters often steal companion animals to use for bait. I encourage authorities to investigate the origin and purpose of any small
animals uncovered on the premises.
Please keep me informed of progress in this disturbing case. One Atlanta Falcons quarterback forever changed public awareness about
suspected dogfighting activities. I implore law enforcers and litigators to investigate and penalize animal fighters to the full extent of the
law.
Thank you,
YOUR FULL NAME
ADDRESS, CITY, STATE
COUNTRY
SAMPLE LETTER # 2: Humane Society Of Missouri
Humane Society of Missouri, Rescues and Investigations Department,
Thank you for your participation in the recent dogfighting bust outside Dexter in Stoddard County, Missouri. Due to the statewide effort,
25 pit bulls, one beagle, and assorted dogfighting paraphernalia were confiscated from a barn used by alleged dogfighters Jessey Short, 30, of
Cape Girardeau, Mo., Curtis Pickering, 28, of South Fulton, Tenn., and Jamie Sifford, 29, of Dudley, Mo.
As typical in raids, investigators found treadmills, vials, syringes, break-sticks to disengage a pit bull's deadly jaw clench, and even
documentation of matches, rankings, breeding stock and prizefighters. The accused dogfighters played their dogs in a horse stall covered in
blood sodden carpet. The dogs' scars, bite wounds and lacerated ears are testimony to their lives of coerced violence and abuse.
Now that these unfortunate dogs find themselves "property" of the courts and under your care, I respectfully ask the Humane Society of
Missouri (HSOM) to evaluate them for placement in credible sanctuaries experienced with pit bulls. I am disturbed by comments in the press
about inevitable euthanasia. Clearly, fight dogs are not "pets-of-the-week" suitable for typical adoption. However, they deserve some human
kindness and a safe place. I sincerely hope HSOM exhausts all possibility to afford them this chance.
"We owe them a little extra patience," concurs Randall Lockwood, the ASPCA's senior vice president whose expert opinion helped spare all
but one of 49 pit bulls seized in the Michael Vick dogfighting case.
Please seek input from national groups such as Best Friends Animal Society in Utah, along with Missouri groups like Pit Bull Rescue
Central, that have hands-on knowledge about former fighting dogs. There can be salvation for some, if not all of these dogs. Please update
me about efforts to determine their fate.
Thank you,
YOUR FULL NAME
ADDRESS, CITY, STATE
COUNTRY
