AR-News: Louisiana Hog Dog fights are finally stopped.

[ISPEAKInc at aol.com]

International Society for the Protection of Exotic Animal Kind and Livestock, 
Inc.
998-C Old Country Road, # 142,   Plainview, NY 11803  516 383-5620   516 
935-4607
ispeakinc at aol.com

Please cross post -


Louisiana Hog Dog fights are finally stopped.-

Mr. Charles Harris Jr, of 455 Highway 63, Clinton Louisiana,  has been 
engaged in closed
arena events that have pitbull dogs attacking hogs. 
http://2theadvocate.com/stories/042304/bak_hogdog001.shtml

The local Sheriff has repeatedly refused to take any action regarding the 
actual fighting, or
the inhumane conditions of the Hogs holding area that was found to be in 
violation of state 
cruelty laws.  East Feliciana Parish, were the fighting has been occurring, 
has no local 
SPCA to specifically enforce animal cruelty laws.

Previously this year, numerous dead hogs had been found after fights.  Upon 
the 
International Society for the Protection of Exotic Animal Kind and Livestock, 
Inc. [I-SPEAK] 
investigating, they found that around thirty hogs were being kept in a pit in 
violation of state
animal cruelty laws in April, 2004.  They notified the Sheriffs office, who 
did not intervene, 
and the Louisiana State veterinarian, Dr. Maxwell A. Lea, Jr.'s office, who 
sent one of their 
investigators to check the conditions. 

The State vets inspector found the hogs without  food, water, shelter, or 
even shade, and 
a dead hog in the pit with the live ones.  No legal action was taken except 
for a warning 
letter to Mr. Harris to improve the conditions, which the state veterinarian 
sent personally.  
I-SPEAK was then sent a present by mail from one apparently overzealous animal
fighter, a bloody boars head.
The Hogs were removed and placed in pens next to Mr. Harris's house, out of 
public sight.  Upon I-SPEAK finding out that there was no shelter and another 
dead hog, they notified the state vet again on May 11, 2004.  While Dr. Lea 
took a complaint from them, he refused to talk to I-SPEAK the next day when they 
called to find out what was happening.

Upon notifying the Louisiana State Police, they stated that the state vet 
refused to send anyone, even when they called him.  Two days later, a state 
police officer examined the hogs and found they had no shelter and the dead hog was 
still present.  Mr. Harris, after being notified about the Louisiana Animal 
Cruelty laws, told the police the latest hog was killed by the others, and he 
would stop any further fighting until a bill is heard in the Louisiana State 
Senate that would explicitly outlaw Hog dog fighting. The State Police did warn 
him that current cruelty laws made his fighting activities illegal, if the 
bill passes or not.

No charges were filed against Mr. Harris as the state veterinarian refused to 
send an investigator, and would not release their April 2004 inspection 
results to the police, even after repeated requests, according to law enforcement 
officials.  
       
Recently, I-SPEAK was notified that the Sheriffs office had arraigned for off 
duty officers to work at the hog dog fighting location, and that Mr. Harris 
was using the prison work release program to assist his fighting enterprise.

I-SPEAK had notified numerous State government agencies, including a State 
Senator, State Attorney General, and Inspector General, who refused to get 
involved.  The Governors secretary was also notified about this, but I-SPEAK has 
not notified of any planned action on the governors part.

I-SPEAK will be monitoring for any future fighting or poor holding pen 
conditions, and try to pursue further state or federal enforcement action if it 
becomes necessary, even if the pending bill is defeated.
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