State combats illegal dog fighting

COLUMBIA - The state attorney general and State Law Enforcement Division are taking steps to stop illegal dog fighting in South Carolina.

Humane societies across the state are raising money to fund a SLED agent dedicated to investigating and an assistant attorney general to prosecute dog fighting cases.

Marli Drum, superintendent for the Columbia Animal Shelter, said she has seen an increase in the number of animals in her shelter with scarring or injuries from street fights. In previous years, she might get one pit bull a month; now she sees several pit bulls a day.

Illegal dog fighting is growing nationwide, and South Carolina is following suit, said Attorney General Henry McMaster.

The attorney general's office has active cases in Orangeburg, Greenville and Dorchester counties. Federal and local authorities on recent drug busts in Calhoun and Richland counties seized 22 dogs suspected of being used in fights, McMaster said.

In tight budget times, little money is available to fund efforts to stop such activity, he said. Groups including the John Ancrum Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Animal Mission, which is a support group for Columbia Animal Services, have donated about $45,000 to fund an agent and prosecutor.

SLED Chief Robert Stewart said an agent has been assigned to the effort. McMaster has a prosecutor working on cases part time until funds are raised to dedicate someone full time.

Charleston attorney and animal activist Sandra Senn is leading fund-raising efforts. She said she hopes to raise about $110,000 a year for the next few years to continue the initiative.

South Carolina is considered by the Humane Society to be among the top states for animal fighting, Senn said.

Participating in dog fighting is a felony, punishable by five years in prison or a $5,000 fine. It's also against the law to simply be at a dogfight.

Dog fighting is a threat to the animals and the community, McMaster said. The dogs are trained to kill and can be vicious toward other animals or people, he said.