Dog Fighting Farm: 300 Pit Bulls Rescued From Secret Jungle Kennels To Save Them From ‘A Fate Worse Than Death’ In Illegal Fights

Dog fighting farm: 300 pit bulls rescued from secret jungle kennels to save them from ‘a fate worse than death’ in illegal fights

300 animals were rescued in raids in Laguna province, south of Manila, Philippines on Friday
Seventeen animals were in such bad condition that they were put down the next day
Nine more people were put to sleep today and dozens more are expected to be too unwell or injured to live
Eight Koreans arrested for ‘operating illegal gambling operations’

Published :16:17 BST, 3 May 2012 | Update : 44:3 BST, 2012 month <> year <>

Veterinarians and animal welfare officers today were forced to euthanize nine more pit bulls rescued from a dog fighting ring in the Philippines.

The decision was made because there was no basis to rehabilitate the animals and prevent them from being used again in underground arenas.

The plan is to take down dozens of about 300 rescued in separate raids on Friday in Laguna province, south of Manila, said Anna Cabrera of the Philippine Animal Welfare Association.

Seventeen were put to sleep on Saturday, the day after the raids.

Sad fate: About 300 were rescued on Friday in separate raids in Laguna province, south of Manila. Dozens of animals will now have to be put down

Helpless: Many will be put down as there are no facilities to rehabilitate animals and prevent them from being used again in underground arenas in the Philippines

A pit bull lies dead from heatstroke. Seventeen were put to sleep on Saturday, the day after the raids, and a further nine today

The health of the animals and the progress of their recovery will determine how many will ultimately survive.

Police have arrested eight South Koreans suspected of running an illegal online gambling operation in which players outside the Philippines bet on fights at a secret compound.

Some of the animals rescued Friday had been rescued from a similar facility in nearby Cavite province in December.

Ms. Cabrera said these were “recycled” – adopted by people who then resold them to the suspects to continue the fight.

“It is a fate worse than death,” she said.

Two of the suspects arrested last week were arrested in the raid in December but have been released on bail.

Welfare Association veterinarian Wilford Almora said many pit bulls – purebred and mixed breed – had suffered horrific injuries, including torn ears and tongues, in previous fights.

He said his team had enough drugs to euthanize 70, and had taken down at least nine this afternoon with 13 more planned before they were finished tonight.

A volunteer from the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) checks the condition of these

Basic conditions: Each had been kept in a metal fuel tank and tied to heavy steel chains inside a five-acre coffee plantation

Philippine police have arrested eight Koreans suspected of running an illegal online gambling operation in which players outside the Philippines bet on fights at a secret compound.

They choose the sickest, emaciated and most ferocious animals to put down first. Some are too weak to stand.

Mr. Almora said they are taking the time to carefully evaluate each before deciding which one to put to sleep.

“We are in no hurry,” he said. We just want to make sure that the people we put to sleep are people who deserve to be put to sleep based on their health status.

Cabrera said it’s impossible to care for all rescued pit bulls and it would be irresponsible to put animals up for adoption that haven’t been properly healed.

These were kept in metal fuel tanks and tied to heavy steel chains inside a five-acre coffee plantation surrounded by a fence made of corrugated tin in the city of San Pablo in Laguna.

Police recovered 30 from an arena in the nearby town of Calauan, where they were about to fight.

Powerful weapon of the law: Police officers pet one of the rescued pit bulls. Animal welfare officers are now selecting the sickest, emaciated and most aggressive animals to put down first

Tired: Police will turn the suspicions over to immigration officials once their investigation has been completed

Abused: Some of the dogs are in such bad shape they are unable to stand

The eight suspicions face charges of illegal gambling and cruelty to animals.

The San Pablo city prosecutor has not yet completed a preliminary investigation to determine if evidence is strong enough for a court case.

Chief Inspector Renante Galang said police will turn the suspicions over to immigration officials.

If convicted of illegal gambling, they face a maximum of 12 years in prison. The charge of animal cruelty carries a penalty of up to two years, but no one has time served in the Philippines for the crime. A student recently found guilty of killing a cat received a few months of community service.

Dogfighting is not common in the Philippines and the fights were broadcast mostly outside the country.