Animal Cruelty and Dog Fighting A Concern For McKamey and Humane Educational Society

CHATTANOOGA,TN, (WDEF)-While puppies play fight at the Humane Society many more are being fought for money.

Bob Citrullo Humane Educational Society, "We see animals that come in that have scars on their feet, scars on their face, you can tell they have been  in some type of animal fighting whether it’s just dog to dog as a stray animal in the community or if it’s something to do with animal fighting."

Laws banning dog and animal fighting in the Volunteer State and Georgia date back to the 1850’s.
Yet McKamey animal shelter say it’s still very much a problem in the Tennessee Valley.

Jamie McAloon, McKamey Animal Shelter,"I mean it brings in prostitution, brings fire arms, a lot of gambling a lot of cash at these scenes."

McAloon says the internet has allowed dog fighting to grow in North Georgia and Tennessee and remain under the radar of law enforcement.

Jamie McAloon, McKamey Animal Shelter,"When children are being raised to watch dog fighting because they are told the animals love it, they enjoy it, its horrific to imagine what that child is seeing throughout their whole childhood because the animals are coming home and being trained in the basement, in the garage."

The Humane Society along with McKamey ask anyone who sees lots of dog chains or the movement of animals at strange of times of day and night to contact them.

Bob Citrullo Humane Educational Society,"First and foremost we want people to report it  that’s the fastest way to investigate, if you are not even sure of what you might be seeing, the best thing to do is call us we will definitely investigate it."

Cruelty to animals causing deliberate harm or death is a felony charge in Georgia.