ASPCA Assists Guilford County Sheriff’s Office and Guilford County Animal Services in Removal of Fifteen Dogs and Puppies from Alleged Dogfighting Operation

Guilford County, N.C. – At the request of the Guilford County Sheriff's Office, the ASPCA ^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ^® ) is assisting the Sheriff’s Office and Guilford County Animal Services with the removal of fifteen dogs and puppies from a property in Guilford County that housed an alleged dog-breeding operation with suspected connections to animal fighting.

The ASPCA is assisting with operational planning and removal, evidence collection, legal and investigative assistance, forensics exams, and medical and behavioral care for the animals. The ASPCA is also providing support to ensure the best legal outcome for these animals. If any criminal charges result from this case, they will be handled by the Guilford County District Attorney’s Office. The dogs are being relocated to an emergency shelter operated by the ASPCA to receive medical and behavioral evaluations, care and enrichment until custody is determined by the court.

“Collaborating with local law enforcement agencies and animal welfare professionals in situations of suspected animal cruelty is key in saving more animal lives across the country,” said Teresa Ladner, Senior Director of Investigations for the ASPCA Legal Advocacy & Investigations Team. “The ASPCA is proud to work alongside the Guilford County Sherriff’s Office and Guilford County Animal Services to bring these animals to safety and provide them with medical and behavioral care.”

The ASPCA operates several facilities to provide care for animals rescued from cruelty and neglect situations across the country. When the ASPCA assists with cruelty cases, the animals are often transported to these facilities to receive ongoing care and enrichment, as well as any needed medical and behavioral treatment. These shelters provide a temporary space to care for the animals so as not to overwhelm brick-and-mortar shelters that may not have the capacity to take in a large population of animals at once. The ASPCA’s national field response work has resulted in the rescue of more than 35,000 animal victims of cruelty and disasters across 38 states in the past 12 years. For more information on the ASPCA’s efforts to end animal fighting, visit aspca.org/fightcruelty .