An investigation into what officials called “the largest dog-fighting ring ever busted in the state of New Jersey.”
“The dogs found on the property this week tell their own stories,” Attorney General Matthew Platkin said during a news conference April 5, two days after a multi-agency initiative removed the dogs from three properties and arrested eight people.
The dogs “now can live a life not of torture but one of peace,” said Col Patrick Callahan, superintendent of the N.J. State Police.
But what is the next chapter for these dogs? And can their stories have a happy ending?
Adam Parascandola says yes. The vice president of animal rescue for the Humane Society of the United States has seen it happen.
He was there the morning of the raid, as rain poured down.
Dogs bearing the wounds of deadly fights greeted their visitors with tails wagging.
Adam Parascandola speaks during the press conference with Attorney General Matthew Platkin and N.J. State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan. “That just speaks so strongly to the bond between dogs and people,” said Parascandola during the press conference. “We need to honor that bond.”
Fighting instead exploits it, he explained to BreakingAC a week after the raid.
“We’ve found overall that these dogs are not really interested in fighting when left to their own devices,” said Parascandola, who began his work in humane law enforcement nearly 30 years ago.
He has worked with the Humane Society for the last 15 years.
“There’s a lot of training,” Parascandola said of getting dogs to fight. “Even if they have been in multiple fights, it doesn’t mean they’re interested in fighting. They’re often happy to lounge around on the couch and be a regular dog.”
One of those dogs is Freddie, who lost his left leg at some point. His remaining front leg is badly injured. X-rays show displacement of toes and a foot badly injured that was never properly treated.
Freddie lost his front leg but is doing well under his new care.
“He’s doing relatively well,” Parascandola said. “He’s really enjoying the toys and having time on the couch.”
While Freddie is on medication, the veterinarian treating him believes there is still in pain. But continued assessments will monitor his quality of life in hopes of giving him a chance.
“He’s really enjoying this life that he’s living now,” Parascandola said.
He along with the other dogs seized remain at an undisclosed safe location.
The dogs were brought there following the raid, which was coordinated with other law agencies and the Humane Society of the United States, which was called into action just a couple of days earlier.
Three veterinarians were part of the initial call.
They triaged the dogs, assessing their injuries.
There were bones that did not heal properly and untreated cuts that had become infected.
Some likely will undergo surgery.
Once fully examined and treated, the Humans Society will work with their network of several hundred partner shelters throughout the country to find them placements.
From there, they hope to get most of them new homes.
“We generally find the majority of the dogs can do very well in a home environment,” said Parascandola, speaking from his decades of experience. “Most of the dogs are pretty good with people. So then we do some assessments to see how they do with other dogs.”
Despite the reputations of those bred to battle, most “don’t have that strong drive against other dogs.”
“I think people would be quite surprised,” he said, pointing to cases where confirmed champions or grand champions have gone on to live in homes with multiple other dogs “and sometimes cats.”
The investigation was a nearly two-year endeavor with a dozen law enforcement agencies coming together in the predawn hours of April 3.
The case is proof that reports of dog fighting and abuse will be taken seriously, Platkin said during his press conference.
“We are really excited to see law enforcement agencies tackle the issue of dog fighting,” Parascandola told BreakingAC. “Not only are we rescuing the dogs that are there, but future generations of dogs that would have been born into this life and endure a life of dog fighting.”
That future already has begun.
At least two litters totaling 15 to 20 puppies have been delivered since the raid, with other dogs expecting.
One nursing mother was so under nourished that her bones were clearly visible. But she continued to take care of her pups.
“She’s a really good mom,” Parascandola said of the dog who has since been dubbed Joan Jett. “It’s not unusual. It’s a very strong maternal instinct.
He said it was surprising she has even been able to produce the milk she was able to produce. Her pups constantly nurse, but she has never pushed them away.
“To know that these dogs now are safe and will not have to face any of that kind of cruelty from this day forward is something everyone should be proud of who worked on (this case),” Parascandola said. We have high hopes that the majority of these dogs will be placed in homes.”
