This article is reprinted with the permission of The Humane Society of the United States www.humanesociety.org
Partnership led to 1-877-NO2FITE
The Humane Society of the United States
In a ground-breaking effort against dogfighting, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has partnered with The HSUS to launch a 24-hour tip line dedicated to eradicating dogfighting.
1-877-NO2FITE
Callers to 1-877-NO2FITE may be paid up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals involved in dogfighting. Callers may remain anonymous and still remain eligible for the reward.
Call 24/7
Persons with information about a dogfighting ring, an upcoming dogfight or an individual who is involved in dogfighting can call the tip line (available in both Spanish and English) 24 hours a day, and the information will be passed on to the appropriate law enforcement agency for investigation.
If someone is aware of a fight in progress, he or she should call 911 immediately.
“Our goal is to encourage citizens to help law enforcement root out a brutal crime that often goes unreported and occurs in the shadows,” District Attorney Cooley said. “We expect that these tips will be a starting point for major criminal investigations.”
The HSUS is funding the animal fighting reward fund, and is partially funding the tip line.
Facts about dogfighting
• Organized dogfighting or street dogfighting is a felony in California, with a 3-year potential prison sentence.
• Being present at a dogfight or while preparations are being made for a dogfight is a misdemeanor in California, with a potential 6-month jail sentence.
• An estimated 40,000 organized dogfighters exist in the United States, claiming the lives of more than 250,000 dogs each year.
• Tips on dogfighting often lead to other crimes like drug dealing and weapons possession.
