Bronx District Attorney, NYPD Say They're Investigating Alleged Dogfighting Ring
Locals and animal advocates say authorities have known about the operation, which reportedly uses abducted cats as bait, for years.
Headlines from Buffalo to Brooklyn
It’s Friday, May 3, 2024.
This week, Bronx County District Attorney Darcel Clark announced that her office is investigating a dogfighting ring that reportedly abducts cats off the streets near Gun Hill Houses to use as bait.
Clark’s office told News 12 investigators “are working with NYPD's Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad to determine where a viral video of a pit bull attacking a cat was taken and who created it.”
“NYPD tweeted it is aware of the viral video and told News 12 in a statement that there is an ongoing investigation,” News 12 reported.
Also this week, NYPD officers shot and killed a dog, identified as a pit bull, who attacked and killed a 41-year-old man inside the man’s Longwood apartment. In a thoroughly reported story, Norwood News looked into the man’s identity and whether his death was related to the dogfighting operation, but was unable to rule it in or out.
According to cat rescuers at Little Wanderers NYC, the Gun Hill Houses dogfighting ring has long been an open secret. “NYCHA residents have reported the attacks to [NYPD’s 47th Precinct] and there has been NO INVESTIGATION,” reads the Little Wanderers NYC Facebook feed.
“Although it has been well known for years and people reported it,” the group said, “everyone got the run around.”
Here’s the latest New York companion animal news:
Bronx DA Darcel Clark is (finally?) investigating the dogfighting ring that uses stray cats as bait.
Related? A dog identified as a pit bull killed his/her owner in an apartment in Longwood.
This is a big deal: NYC’s first pet-friendly homeless shelter has opened in the Bronx.
Arya, the Pomeranian/Husky shot in her Queens home by an 18-yo playing with guns, has died.
Lawyer for Ronkonkoma woman arrested for hoarding says his 79-yo client “loved those animals very much.”
“Veterinarians are two times more likely to die by suicide than [any other] medical profession.”
A start-up is offering at-home euthanizations in NYC.
Paws Crossed Animal Rescue in Westchester is hosting a rescue and advocacy workshop tomorrow.
WPIX did a ride-along with Brooklyn-based Pilots to the Rescue.
Rescued and adoptable: Meet Sugar from Smithtown.
Food recalls
The FDA released no new pet food recalls this week.