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Dogfighting hasn't been seen in county in years
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More from Local NewsJolene Hoffman, director of the Humane Society animal shelter in Ojai, still remembers the last time it had a victim of dogfighting.
"It was a dog that was chained to a fire hydrant right down the street from us," she said. "Obviously, it had been fought. The dog had wounds all over its body from other dogs attacking it. It was horrible."
But that was at least 10 years ago.
Since then, the shelter hasn't seen a single dog that looked like it was part of a fighting ring.
While professional football player Michael Vick faces federal charges over an alleged dogfighting operation in Virginia, police, prosecutors and county animal regulators say they essentially wiped out the dogfighting trade in Ventura County a generation ago.
Occasionally, the authorities will bust a cockfighting ring, but dogfighting is virtually unheard of, said Kathy Jenks, director of the county Department of Animal Regulation.
"We see dogs that have been in fights, but to our knowledge, there hasn't been any organized dogfighting in about 20 years," she said.
Jenks, however, worries that the headlines about Atlanta Falcons quarterback Vick could prompt someone to start staging dogfights here.
"I'm afraid all of this Michael Vick stuff might get some people thinking, Oh, he's cool, I could do that,'" she said.
When the county animal shelter gets a dog that might be dangerous, it takes steps to make sure dogs and people are kept safe, Jenks said. Certain breeds — pit bulls, Dobermans, Rottweilers and a few others — are adopted out only after shelter staff members visit the applicant's home to make sure it's suitable.
The home visits "don't have anything to do with dogfighting," Jenks said.
They're to make sure the home is secure, there are no small children if the dog isn't considered safe for kids, and the canine isn't going to be abused or "turned into a mean dog," she said.
And despite the lack of any direct evidence, Hoffman suspects dogfights are happening somewhere in Ventura County.
"It's so secretive, everybody is so frightened, so I don't think we'd hear about it," she said. "I strongly believe it's happening. It's just such a big moneymaker."
Posted by toyrunner on July 27, 2007 at 6:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"police, prosecutors and county animal regulators say they essentially wiped out the dogfighting trade in Ventura County a generation ago."
"And despite the lack of any direct evidence, Hoffman suspects dogfights are happening somewhere in Ventura County.
Contradict much? Great reporting as usual...
I mean really, just say that in the beginning. Guess is there is a need to fill the pages with something.
Posted by AnaCapa on July 27, 2007 at 6:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hate to defend the Star, but to be fair they stopped short of saying dog fighting has been completely eradicated. read the headline. I don't see the cntradiction.
Posted by surfchicxo on July 27, 2007 at 7:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In response to Gitardan's post- You are completely right. If the dog poses any threat, than they most likely do not have a chance of being taught any other type of behavior. Dogs that are used in dog fights, are most often trained to kill. There are however, dogs who they use in fights that are not. I had a red nose pitbull who grew up with cats and a toy poodle. She was taken from a friends ranch in camarillo and was gone for about a week. When someone found her and turned her in to the camarillo airport animal shelter, it was clear that she had been thrown in a ring to fight and was not sucessful. She was not raised to be a fighting dog and was therefor very loving and sweet.
In this article they are talking about taking that extra step to make sure both the humans and animals are safe...they are talking about those breeds who have been known to have violent ways about them. However, they can not just discriminate against a dog because of it's breed. They aren't all raised to be mean, ferocious animals!
Posted by CALA on July 27, 2007 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It may have been misleading to state "a dog that might be dangerous". The dogs that are mentioned as "dangerous" are very strong, large dogs, not all of them are aggressive and they need to be cared for and trained properly, not everyone can handle them. They are very loving, loyal breeds. Many small breeds are potentially more aggressive and are likely to bite or nip but they are so small that any injuries are not as serious. I DO agree that no large aggressive dogs (usually due to abuse or neglect) should be adopted and should possibly euthanized, but please do not believe that any dog of the mentioned breeds are mean, and aggressive, they just need the right owner.
Posted by Ventura22 on July 27, 2007 at 12:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
But c---fighting has! Take a look out on some farms...Dufau road area. Well-known for this!
Posted by surfmedic91 on July 27, 2007 at 3 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Those breeds are not accepted by some locations to include Chows. Breeds are discriminated against by the Vta County Animal shelter and the Humane Society in Ojai. They will take them in but not offer them for adoption. Euthanization is the resort.
Even though a specific dog was not bred for fighting or protection, if that dog has family lines that were in the past, the agressive nature has a potential to come out. I agree that many smaller breeds and even large breeds of dogs can be more agressive but those mentioned here get a bad rap. My dog has never been attacked by any of those breeds, even while walking the Venice Boardwalk. She has been attacked by others as a result of their owners irresponsibility and allowing them freedom without a leash.
Posted by Ventura22 on July 27, 2007 at 3:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Keep in mind people that adopting out one of these dogs, especially one that already has a history makes the shelter organization liable if something bad happens. Sad that any dog has to be put down and should serve as a lesson for all pet owners/breeders to be responsible.
Posted by jill on July 27, 2007 at 10:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My dog has been viciously attacked by three pitbulls. One time, I was walking my dog on a leash and the pit came across the street from a house and the lady in front said, "Oh, he's friendly." Next thing I know, my dog's being attacked. My dog is a medium-size, extremely gentle dog. You never know about pitbulls. Their strong bite does damage. They are listed in our dog book way above others as the breed that kills more humans than any other breed.
Posted by danove on July 29, 2007 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There are pitbulls and rottweilers available for adoption right now on the Department of Animal Regulations website: http://www.vcar.us/ . A home visit is required.
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