HSUS helped Kzoo Animal Control

KALAMAZOO TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - The Humane Society of the United States brought in a small army of volunteers to take custody of dozens of dogs seized in an apparent dog-fighting ring in Kalamazoo Township.

Not only did they provide support for the local investigation, the Humane Society will try to save as many of the dogs as possible.

===

Photos: Dog fighting bust in Kalamazoo County

===

"We can bring out our tractor-trailer that's outfitted to house animals, our mobile crime lab, field responders who are trained in documenting animals as evidence properly," said Chris Schindler, who runs the dog-fighting investigations for the HSUS . "We set up emergency shelters, bring in all the caging and housing so they can get the enrichment to be able to get all the things they never received before."

Stephen Lawrence, who runs the Kalamazoo County Animal Control said he initially asked the Humane Society of the US for help in housing the animals. But he soon found the national organization was helping the local investigators, who began the probe a year ago.

The HSUS offered to house the animals for two months, test them and make sure as many are rehabilitated into new homes as possible.

"Probably, if we didn't have their assistance, we would put down all of the dogs," Lawrence said. "They know what they're doing. They made this so much easier with taking care of these animals."

The dogs are being housed in a secret location in Portage -- and it will remain secret because officials don't want anyone to try and break out the dogs.

Known dog-fighters cannot be adopted in Michigan. The dogs that are rehabilitated will be sent out of state, where a dog fighting rescue coalition will help them find homes.

The HSUS will help process evidence aimed at securing convictions in this dog fighting case.

"These investigations sometimes can lead to more," Schindler said. "I'm hoping that individuals engaged in this activity realize that law enforcement here in Kalamazoo is going to take these seriously. They're going to get the information and they're going to shut them down."