45 Arrested in Newton County’s “Operation Pitbull” – Cash, Narcotics, and Firearms Seized
AUSTIN, Texas — Animal Wellness Action today applauded the collaborative work of law enforcement authorities in Newton County, Texas for dismantling a large-scale dog-fighting operation in Newton County, calling the raid one of the most consequential dog-fighting enforcement actions in the state in years in the state and urging state and federal officials to intensify pressure on criminal animal-fighting networks in the Lone Star State.
The Newton County Sheriff’s Office announced that 45 individuals were arrested Saturday following a months-long investigation known as “Operation Pitbull,” which began in March after numerous complaints and tips about active dogfighting in the area.
According to Sheriff Colton Havard, when officers executed a search warrant, an active dogfight was in progress inside a pit constructed specifically for fighting. Dozens of suspects attempted to flee into a wooded area but were quickly apprehended. Authorities seized approximately 40 vehicles, many containing illegal narcotics in plain view, as well as firearms and $73,858 in cash. Two severely injured dogs were transported to a veterinary clinic in Nederland for emergency care.
“Dog-fighting and animal cruelty will not be tolerated in Newton County. In my years of law enforcement, this is one of the most disturbing crimes I have ever witnessed and the individuals involved should be ashamed of themselves,” said Sheriff Havard.
“This sophisticated law enforcement response demonstrates what happens when law enforcement makes enforcement a priority: animal-fighting crime networks collapse,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. “As usual, law enforcement discovered not just animal cruelty at the scene of a staged fight but also vast sums of cash, guns, and drugs. We applaud Sheriff Havard and the assisting agencies for stopping this organized crime ring.”
Animal Wellness Action noted that law enforcement in Texas has made notable progress in interdicting animal fighting operations in recent years but emphasized that the illegal networks are vast. “When law enforcement cracks down on animal fighting, they make the community safer because the people who participate are typically involved in a wide set of criminal activities,” added Pacelle.
Animal Wellness Action is working in Congress to pass the FIGHT Act, H.R. 3946 and S. 1454, to strengthen the national law against animal fighting and give local law enforcement more tools to combat dogfighting and cockfighting. The Sheriffs’ Association of Texas is one of 1,000 endorsers of the anti-crime, anti-cruelty, pro-agriculture legislation, along with the National Sheriffs’ Association and the National District Attorneys Association.
A fact sheet on the FIGHT Act can be found here.