Reunion For Survivors Of Largest Dog Fighting Raid In U.S. History
- It was a one-of-a-kind reunion Saturday at the Humane Society in West St. Louis for survivors of the largest dog fighting raid in U.S. History. Rescued animals and their new owners got together one year after the seizure of more than 500 dogs; what's become known as the " Missouri 500". What could have been forever a source of shame had become a source of pride; T-shirts at the reunion were emblazoned with the message: "MO 500, Missouri's Victims Set Free".
"It's been an emotional day for us. I've been sobbing many times," said Melissa Ledbetter, who volunteered into the effort to save as many dogs as possible, and ended up adopting one of them: a pit bull she named, "Fat Boy".
"Fat Boy is from the 2009 dog fighting bust. I pretty much picked him out of 500 dogs to be our personal dog. He is wonderful," Ledbetter said.
Ljunberg, the bulldog, was scampering around on "all-fours". A year ago, the dog could only crawl on its front two paws.
They are among the more than 500 dogs seized from 8 states: Missouri, Illinois, and 6 others. 17 people have been sentenced to prison time in the case, at least 11 to a year or more; about half the dogs have been adopted. The others had to be euthanized because of illness or severe behavioral problems.
Which makes the stories of dogs like "Fat Boy" even more amazing. "Fat Boy" was a breeding dog, near the end of its usefulness in the dog fighting world.
"Basically, once they're done making money for them, they're discarded, just like the rest of them; either by a electrocution or drowning or however they choose," Ledbetter said. "He's good with my kids. He's good with all people. He's made a great pet."
This story was as much about people as dogs; the bad people who've gone to prison for what they've done and the good people, more than 400 of them, honored on the "Missouri 500" Wall of Fame at the Humane Society. They came to St. Louis from the states of Michigan, Nebrasaka, Oregon, and Washington.
"Some flew, some drove in, if they were close enough," said Humane Society Volunteer Coordinator, Laura Renner. "These people were amazing that they gave up their holidays, they took vacation time from work; unpaid leave from work. They had other people watch their own pets and stay with their families so they could come here," she said.
They turned the darkest of days of July 2009 into the, then, unimaginable days of 2010.
"I get to see them living out a happy life and getting to be dogs," Ledbetter said.
The way it was always supposed to be.
As part of the reunion, the Humane Society offered discounts for pit bull adoptions.
There are still dogs from the rescue now in foster care being prepared for adoption.