Information from a 2008 dog fighting case investigated by members of the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force led to the involvement of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Tim Rickey, director of the Humane Society of Missouri’s Animal Cruelty Task Force, and Kyle Held, Humane Society of Missouri animal cruelty investigator, spent countless hours providing consultation and dog rescue services throughout the ensuing multi-state investigation. At times, when other agencies had doubts about continuing the investigation, Rickey’s and Held’s unrelenting commitment to ending dog fighting kept the investigation alive.
On July 8, Rickey and the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force coordinated the crime-scene evidence gathering and animal rescue efforts in five states: Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Texas, and Oklahoma. Dogs also were rescued in Nebraska, Arkansas and Mississippi. The multi-location evidence and animal recovery operation required professional animal rescuers and a variety of specialized animal transport vehicles from the Humane Society of Missouri as well as those from the ASPCA and Humane Society of the United States.
The Fall 2009 issue of HSMO’s quarterly publication “Tails Magazine” features stories of the investigations that has saved over 500 dogs from a life of torture and fighting. We want to thank HSMO for the incredible work they do in the lower midwest region. This bust is only one of many that they have either led or participated in over the years and HSMO continues to save hundreds of dogs from lives of abuse and neglect. You can read more about their investigations and rescues at their website www.hsmo.org .