L.I. Lawmakers Call On Public To Report Animal Abuse After Dogfighting Ring Bust
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A call has mounted on Long Island for the public to report animal abuse, after nearly a dozen dogs were rescued from alleged drug dealers who were believed to be training them to fight.
As TV 10/55 Long Island Bureau Chief Richard Rose reported Friday, Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray held a 2-month-old pit bull as she talked about the torture that 11 dogs have been through.
"Some have many scars and wounds, and if you look at Alex – our 8-month-old here – you see evidence of scarring on his face," Murray said.
Fifteen gang members and their associates were arrested Thursday in connection with the sale of fentanyl-laced heroin, prescription drugs Xanax, Oxycodone and Codeine Promethazine and charges related to dog fighting operations, authorities said.
The suspects are accused of making hundreds of thousands of dollars in dogfighting bets, 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reported Thursday.
Police and prosecutors on Thursday showed off the guns and laced heroin that the suspects were accused of peddling. But animal shelter operators were shocked at the evidence that dogs had been viciously trained for combat.
"There were some bait dogs among those 11 who had their mouths stitched shut, while other fighting dogs were allowed to prey on those," Murray said.
Murray has called on residents to call 911 if they see obvious signs of abuse. Police said the dogs were often chained, and most could not be brought out publicly because of their injuries.
"The animals have wounds," Said Hempstead animal shelter director Mike Pastore. "They needed to be removed from that situation, but they are at the shelter receiving medical attention."
Pastore said his staff will try to socialize the traumatized dogs in hopes of getting them adopted someday.
"I recently just lost my dog, Toby, just three weeks ago," said Frank Hidalgo of Brooklyn. "I'm here with a broken heart."
Hidalgo's loss of his beloved pet brought him to the Hempstead shelter Friday. He said he would be willing to adopt one of the traumatized dogs, and was shaken by their treatment.
"It's criminal. It's terrible. It's horrible. It's inhumane," Hidalgo said.
Shelter trainers said it will be months before they will know if the abuse the animal suffered can be reversed to allow them to be placed in loving homes.
Town officials said you can also call the Hempstead Animal Shelter at (516) 785-5220 to report suspected cases of animal abuse.