That was a good article, and you are right. Certainly a lot of gray area in that sting operation.
Was it worth it? I think so. There were many dogs saved from it that surely would be dead or mangled, or still fighting today, and it put some of the scumbags behind bars. Will it deter dog fighting in the long run? Probably not...

It was a very good article and agree 100% with the above posts. My personality is not set up to do something like that, for sure. I would probably end up attempting to steal a bunch of dogs and we know that would go nowhere. I so appreciate those that can with morales intact and the sacrifices they made personally to make a difference.

I realize that good came from the situation (for that circle of dogs and some legal aspects set) but I just can't get this nagging feeling to stop that the ends didn't justify the mean. I'm not sure if it is because it is such a small dent in the dog fighting circle, the prision sentencing length, etc. There just isn't an easy way to stopping these types of crimes.

I took a criminology class that focused a lot on things like this. Undercover officers selling drugs, using drugs, for months to years, to make a huge bust and arrest the most important people in the business. Undercover officers using dogs for fighting is essentially the same thing. For me it comes down to whether or not there are any other possibilities, and often there are not. It's hard to go undercover and not be spotted out if you aren't going to partake in the things they are doing.

I'd love to get LE opinion on this.

 Quote: Katie Finlay

I took a criminology class that focused a lot on things like this. Undercover officers selling drugs, using drugs, for months to years, to make a huge bust and arrest the most important people in the business. Undercover officers using dogs for fighting is essentially the same thing. For me it comes down to whether or not there are any other possibilities, and often there are not. It's hard to go undercover and not be spotted out if you aren't going to partake in the things they are doing.

I'd love to get LE opinion on this.

Ok, here's my opinion:
*I* can volunteer for a dangerous undercover assignment knowing full well what kind of danger I place myself in - my dog can not.
It's the difference between * making* a sacrifice and *being* sacrificed - and that's a huge difference.

Thanks Will! That's what I wanted to know. I felt that way automatically, as most of us do, but I at least wanted to see if there was another side.

 Quote: Will Rambeau

Ok, here's my opinion:
*I* can volunteer for a dangerous undercover assignment knowing full well what kind of danger I place myself in - my dog can not.
It's the difference between * making* a sacrifice and *being* sacrificed - and that's a huge difference.

But is there a difference between using a K-9 to apprehend a dangerous criminal, where the dog is potentially put in danger, and what these officers did?
I'm still seeing the gray...

Law Enforcement's hands are always tied in cases like these, the best responses to crap like this is something like the case that happened in North Carolina in the 1970's ( while I was stationed at Ft. Bragg ).

There was a huge dog fighting ring ( that seemed to be above the law ) that actually held a monthly "match" with the usual gambling, drinking and drug usage that occurs during dog fights - it was disgusting beyond belief.
Well, a couple of guys ( several, actually ) loaded up their battle rifles and put over 300 rounds of .308 tracer rounds into all the spectators cars that were neatly lined up in the parking area. No one was injured but every car could no longer be driven ( and many were on fire ). So the dog fighters were stuck there with injured dogs and all their paraphernalia when the fire department and law enforcement arrived, along with reporters from one of the TV stations and the local newspaper ( they were all called by an anonymous tip, most likely one of the shooters ).

It took years to sort out the legal issues but five of the dog fighters ended up doing time and several of the spectators ended up getting their paroles revoked - it was a joy to read about the case!

That's awesome Will! Though I personally would have thrown many egg-urine jars into their cars.

Just saw a picture of the dog Fay with no lips. Disgusting.

I wish these people got more than a measly 16 months. Bah.