Dozens of adorable pooches will get a second lease on life after being rescued from an insidious dog fighting ring in South Carolina.
A video of the rescue in Horry County was filmed by animal welfare organization Best Friends Animal Society and shows the dogs whining in metal cages stacked inside a tiny room.
As one dog is released from its tiny shelter, a person off camera can be heard saying “Number 8.” The clip then cuts to another rescue dog who appears elated to be out of the tiny cage it once called home.
Horry County police captain Justin Wyatt said it was important to engage with animal experts when deciding what to do with the dogs.
“My first thought was ‘let’s get somebody in here who can help us make the best decision,’” he told NewsWeek.
Local police engaged with dog behavior expert, Jen Deane, who has experience working with dogs exposed to trauma.
Deane and the help of Best Friends Animal Society were able to save the dogs.
“With so much misinformation out there about fighting dogs and attorneys worried about liability, the clock was ticking from the moment we got the dogs. Without the intervention of Best Friends and Jen, they would have been euthanized,” Wyatt explained to the publication.
Of the 29 dogs rescued, 17 were taken to Renegade Paws Rescue in Savannah, Georgia, while the 12 others went to Beyond the Fight Initiative in Palm Bay, Florida.
Best Friends Animal Society also contributed $16,000 towards their general care and boarding costs for each location.
“They just love people,” Jennifer Taylor of Renegade Paws Rescue said of her 17 new residents.
Taylor said the organization has a new Underdog Uprising program designed to teach volunteers how to work with dogs with difficult pasts.
“We cover such topics as how to work with high-energy dogs, handling dogs with mouthy behavior or dogs who like to jump on you — things like that,” Taylor added.
Advocated also come in two to three times a week to spend time with the dogs which Taylor said helps the canines build trust, learn to be comfortable walking on a leash and learn other skills in a safe environment and setting them up for adoption.
Ashley Dames said the 12 in her care at Beyond the Fight all have their own personalities.
“Willow will climb right into your lap. Doug is a fun-loving, goofy dog who loves life. He also loves all people, races around the yard to do zoomies, and is super curious and likes to be involved in everything,” she said of a few of the pooches.
“Mama is a happy girl who really thinks she’s a lap dog and likes to sneak in kisses. [Meanwhile], Crawl is a shy girl who opens up after a few gentle pets. She gets her name because when we first got her, she crawled everywhere and most of the time needed to be carried from place to place.”
Best Friends Society’s East Region Director Audrey Lodato told NewsWeek that they’ve seen the toll dog fighting has taken on staff.
“So when we saw an opportunity to step up and help these dogs find a different outcome, we were eager to help,” she said.
“Luckily our background means that we are a well-respected resource when it comes to dogs that have been in a fighting environment and I’m confident that factored into the decision to release these dogs to rescues.”
Each year an estimated 16,000 dogs are raised for dog fighting, with about 44 of those mauled to death in the illegal rackets each day.
The Post has contacted Best Friends Animal Society, Renegade Paws Rescue, Beyond the Fight and Horry County police for comment.
