Friend or foe?

[bigdoglover]

Palladium-Item

By Bill Engle


Many area law enforcement officials believe there is dog-fighting going on both in Richmond and in the surrounding area. Some surmise that recent attacks may be the result of owners, who use their dogs to fight, working to make them more vicious and mean in anticipation of an upcoming fight.

"I think there's dog fighting in Richmond," said Richmond Police Capt. Melody Truitt. "I think it is relatively sporadic and disorganized. But if you are willing to drive a half hour to an hour, you can find dog fighting."


Truitt based her opinion on "talk" that officers have heard on the street and from dogs police have found who have battle scars.

The most recent known dog fight in this area happened in February of 2000 when Ohio police arrested 29 people and confiscated 11 dogs at a fight in a barn on Pence Shewman Road in Preble County. Police also seized 14 vehicles, $30,000 in cash, some drugs and several guns at the scene.

"I'm sure it's going on, if not in this immediate area then in the surrounding area," said Preble County Sheriff Mike Simpson.

Dayton police recently raided a house and found nearly two dozen pit bulls. They believe the house was an illegal breeding and training ground for dog fighting.

"I think dog fighting is prolific in almost every large city area," said Karla Hamlin, pound manager and acting chief dog warden in Toledo, Ohio. "It's all underground. It's all hidden away and secretive. People are invited if they are considered trustworthy."

Hamlin said pit bulls are plentiful in Toledo.

"When I started here in '78 I rarely saw a pit bull," she said. "Now, the population of our kennel is 300 and about 40 percent are pit bulls."