Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission (MADACC) Partnering with
Milwaukee Police Department to Provide Training
on Animal Fighting and Abuse
Dog fighting in the
U.S. has reached epidemic proportions in most urban
communities and continues to thrive in many rural
areas as well. The collective American conscious has
long been repulsed by the brutality within the culture
of dog fighting, but the law enforcement community has
been regrettably lax in appreciating the full scope
and gravity of the problem.
Historically, the
crime was erroneously classified as an isolated animal
welfare issue, handled by humane investigators with no
law enforcement capabilities. Animal abuse is a crime
and, just like any other crime, the only appropriate
response is a law enforcement response. Failure to
hold perpetrators criminally responsible for violating
dog fighting and other animal cruelty statues condones
this behavior and sends a message that our legal
system is weak and inconsistent.
Additionally, dog
fighting does not occur in a vacuum. Dog fighters
are violent criminals that engage in a whole host of
peripheral criminal activities. Many are heavily
involved in organized crime, racketeering, drug
distribution, or gangs, and they arrange and attend
the fights as a forum for gambling and drug
trafficking. The commitment of police resources to
the apprehension of dog fighters is not a sacrifice of
those from other areas of law enforcement. On the
contrary, individuals apprehended for dog fighting are
the same gang members, drug-dealers, robbers and
violent criminals that the vice, narcotics and gang
units actively seek to arrest. Dog fighting raids
tend to result in mass arrests for multiple offenses
whereby serious and habitual criminals, that may
otherwise be unattainable, are easily and efficiently
apprehended.
Furthermore, dog
fighting and animal abuse are child welfare issues.
As most urban youth are routinely exposed to dog
fighting and its peripheral crimes, they are
desensitized to violence and suffering and ultimately
become criminalized and perpetuate that cycle of
violence. The plight of animals in inner-city areas
is often so blatantly obvious; even those who are not
involved with dog fighting are routinely exposed to
the abuse and neglect of animals.
On January 21, 2008,
MADACC began presenting seminars as part of Milwaukee
Police Department’s annual training to provide
participants with tools to identify animal fighting
and abuse; assess animal fighting, abuse and neglect
situations for criminal violations; explain the link
between interpersonal violence and animal abuse;
collect and preserve evidence; avoid lethal force
interactions with canines and avoid dog bites; and
define state laws pertaining to animal fighting, abuse
and neglect.
The recent public
awareness surrounding the Michael Vick dog fighting
case provided a great opportunity to approach the
Milwaukee Police Department to educate and train
Milwaukee’s officers on the growing social issue of
dog fighting. Of the roughly 5,000 dogs that enter
MADACC’s facility annually, approximately 31% are pit
bull or pit bull mixes.
MADACC Field Services
Supervisor, John McDowell,
with over 35 years experience in animal control and
welfare provides the one hour training five days a
week, for an eight week period. All sworn Milwaukee
Police Officers will receive the training.
