Animal Fighting Network Shut Down in Multi-State Raid

The Humane Society of the U.S. Spearheads Intelligence Fathering on Shadowy Underground Network of Animal Fighters

ANIMAL FIGHTING NETWORK SHUT DOWN IN MULTI-STATE RAID
The Humane Society of the United States Spearheads Intelligence Gathering on Shadowy Underground Network of Animal Fighters, Assists with Investigation

WASHINGTON (December 20, 2004)—The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) worked closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in a four-state raid that netted the leaders of  an organized animal fighting network called the International  Catchdog Association (ICA) who have been arrested on an array of felony charges including animal cruelty.

Beginning Friday morning, December 17, authorities issued search and arrest warrants in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia and South Carolina, on  federal and state charges for participating in, organizing and  selling videos for "hog dog" fighting. Hog dog fights—often referred  to as "hog catch trials" and "hog dog rodeos"—involve setting  vicious dogs loose to attack pigs in a penned area, in a gory and  often fatal combat that organizers frequently bill as "family  friendly" events. 

"This coordinated effort has helped to bring to justice leaders of an organized animal fighting syndicate that profited from staged  fights between pit bulls and hogs in penned areas," said Wayne  Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United  States. "Making use of strong federal and state prohibitions on such  conduct, law enforcement agents arrested leaders of this clandestine  network, dealing a major blow to this despicable industry." 

The HSUS assisted with investigation and execution of a carefully- planned operation that includes the following law enforcement  agencies: The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), The  Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of  Agriculture (USDA), The Jefferson County, Ala. Sheriff's Office, and  the Yavapai County, Ariz. Sheriff's Office. 

Those arrested on felony animal cruelty charges include Arthur  Parker, Sr., president of the International Catchdog Association  (ICA), and Parker's wife, Mary Evans Luther, secretary for ICA in  Chester County, South Carolina. Mr. Parker's son, Arthur Parker,  Jr., was also arrested. According to a statement by the Office of  South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster, who has been a  tireless advocate of stamping out animal fighting, Parker, Sr. is  considered to be the top hog dog fighting event sponsor in the  nation, and is believed to conduct the fights across South  Carolina.  Ninety-five dogs and 15 hogs were seized on the Parkers'  property.  

The law enforcement sweep resulted in arrests in several other  states. In Yavapai County, Arizona, James Curry and his wife Jodi  Curry-Liesberg were arrested on an array of charges including animal  cruelty.  Seventeen dogs and 32 boars were seized on their property,  according to reports. In Jefferson County, Alabama, Richard Landers  and his wife Shina, who is the webmaster for the ICA Web site, were  arrested on miscellaneous animal cruelty charges. Seven dogs were  seized on their property. 

"It is shocking that this kind of activity still happens in parts of  our country," said Sheriff Mike Hale of the Jefferson County, Ala.  Sheriff's Office.  "We are fortunate that we have the ability and  technology to partner with all of the involved agencies to conduct a  multi- state investigation such as this and shut down this  operation. We are more than happy to bring these people to justice  and send a message to others that we will not tolerate this gross  mistreatment of animals."

Hog dog fighting is organized in at least 10 states nationwide and  its presence is apparently growing.  States known to have hog dog  fighting activity include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida,  Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina and  Texas.  Earlier this year, Louisiana passed a statute specifically  banning the practice.  The activity is generally considered to  violate the other states' anti-animal fighting laws.  Earlier this year, NBC affiliate WPMI-TV in Mobile, Alabama, exposed  the horrors of hog dog fighting through an undercover investigation. 

That videotape gained widespread attention throughout the South and  led to an arrest and conviction of the hog dog event's operator on  animal cruelty charges. Shortly after WPMI broke the hog dog  fighting story, Louisiana Rep. Warren Triche introduced a bill to  ban hog dog fighting in his state.  Attorneys general in Florida and Texas have each stated that hog dog  events are in violation of their respective state laws.  More information on hog dog fighting including streaming video is  found on the HSUS Web site at www.hsus.org.  B-roll of hog dog  fighting is also available upon request. 

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest  animal protection organization with more than eight million members  and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with  active programs in companion animals and equine protection, wildlife  and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animals and  sustainable agriculture. The HSUS protects all animals through  legislation, litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and  fieldwork. The non-profit organization, which is celebrating its  50th anniversary in 2004, is based in Washington, DC and has 10  regional offices across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.