Animal control officers are working to raise awareness of the problems caused by dog fighting.
April 8 is National Dog Fighting Awareness Day, which has animal control officers in Prince William County on the look out for animals that have been mistreated.
“We ask everyone: Please call us when you see something happening. If you wait, it could be too late,” said Prince William police Capt. Alfred Miller, who oversees animal control and the county’s shelter.
The type of organized dog fighting that can take place in secluded areas, in specials cages or small arenas, is not common in Prince William. However, some officers have found dog owners with their pets behind gas stations and convenience stores challenging each others’ pets to a fight.
“With these types of street fights, the owners typically avoid public spaces,” said Miller.
Organized or street fight, dog fighting is a felony offense in Virginia. Some owners are known to starve their animals so they’ll be more aggressive, and condition them to never give up while fighting, so the animal could be injured or killed.
Miller said the seven signs of animal abuse to watch for include:
1. Howling or barking for a sustained period of time or hearing an animal cry in pain with higher-pitched, more persistent vocal sounds than usual.
2. Singed, matted, chronically or excessively dirty hair or fur.
3. Wounds, unusual scars, hair loss, frequent limping—often on different legs, or signs of improper nutrition such as weight loss or prominent visible ribs.
4. Animals kept caged or tethered with little room to move for long periods of time or without regular interaction with people.
5. Lack of protection from the weather or feces- or debris-strewn living areas for animals.
6. Collars, leashes, or halters so tight they visibly dig into the animal’s face or neck.
7. A large number of animals coming or going from a property.
Not every fighting incident an animal control officer is called to is an arranged dog fight.
“When people are out walking their dog, and we get called, we sometimes need to determine if this was a dog fight, or two dogs that happened to fight,” said Miller.
Dogs that happened to fight may be lacking social skills. Several classes and activities at the Prince William County Animal Shelter, to include dog obedience classes offered twice a week, and a Sunday morning dog socialization walk, are designed to help pet owners teach their animals to get along with others.
April 10 through 16 is National Animal Control Appreciation Week where officers will be recognized for their work in the community, working to capturing stray animals, enforcing animal quarantines in the interest of public health, educating residents about animal laws, and reuniting lost pets with their owners.
