Easy ways to make a difference in your neighborhood.

10 ThingsTo Do If You Suspect Dog Fighting

1. Contact the police or your local animal control officer. Provide as much information as you can without putting yourself in danger. In other words, don’t try to investigate; that’s what the police do. Simply report the date and time you noticed something wrong, the address or location, and what led you to believe there was dog fighting going on – for instance, an unusually high number of cars nearby (write down license plate numbers if they’re easily visible from a safe location), sounds of violence or crowd noises (as if at a sporting event).

2. Call the Humane Society of the United States’ toll-free tip line at:
(877) 847-4787 to report your suspicion.

3. Report abandoned buildings to your local housing authority or the police. In urban areas, they are often used for dog fighting.

4. Protect your pets. Dog fighters sometimes steal them to use as bait dogs. Don’t let yours outside without supervision, and make sure they have proper identification tags and are microchipped. Report pet theft in your area.

5. Alert the media! Your local newspaper and television station are always looking for stories, especially investigative ones – or ones about public officials not responding to citizens’ concerns. You don’t have to give them your name. Also encourage local media to air public service announcements on dog fighting.

6. Be persistent. Keep reporting your suspicion until you’re satisfied that it’s been checked out. It’s okay to make a nuisance of yourself if it means shutting down a dog-fighting operation.

7. Start a community watch group.

8. Support stronger laws. Contact your state representative or senator about tougher dog-fighting legislation at the state level, or talk to your city council and mayor about enacting a local anti-tethering ordinance.

9. Provide positive reinforcement to police and prosecutors who bring down dog fighters. Let them know you appreciate their efforts with an email, a call, a letter to the editor or a handshake.

10. Remember that you have something all elected officials want – your vote.

Resources
Join the Best Friends Network and visit communities that focus on it, such as the Stop Breed Specific Legislation and End Georgia Dog Fighting.

Get involved with Pit Bull Awareness Day 2008 in your community.

The Petabuse.com database allows you to check to see whether a person has prior animal-related offenses.

Learn how to start a Community Watch Program in your neighborhood: Click here

Check out The Link: Animal Abuse and Violence.

by Best Friends Campaigns Team
posted by Denise LeBeau, Best Friends staff