Between the Humane Society and PETA, if you have the balls to turn in the dogfighters who allegedly used Rogue as a bait dog in a secret St. Petersburg dogfighting ring, you could walk away with up to $7500.
The Humane Society of the United States offers $5000 to anyone with information that leads to an arrest of anyone involved in dogfighting. Now PETA has sweetened the pot with up to a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons specifically responsible the dogfighting that led to the mutilation of the puppy, Rogue, found last week at the corner of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street S. and 15th Avenue S. in St. Petersburg.
That makes the grand total for turning in a scumbag of the lowest order $7,500, plus more good karma than you can handle.
Don't think St. Pete could have dogfighting? Think again.
T. Collins lives in the Maximo area of St. Petersburg. She works as a water meter reader for the city of St. Petersburg. She thought of dogfighting as something that happened in the country or in secluded areas. Last week, she learned she was wrong.
While working, she saw a crying woman trying to coax an injured puppy out from under a car. When she approached the dog, she saw his snout had been torn down to the bone under his eye. He had puncture wounds – old and new – and blood all over.
Rogue, she believes, was used as a bait dog. And she says it opened her eyes to the reality of dogfighting in St. Petersburg.
"It had a profoundly different impact on me," Collins said. "For me, it's astonishing to figure out it's going on here, in my own backyard."
She started a Facebook page for the pup, whom she named Rogue. That's when—and where—people started to speak out about dogfighting. She realized she'd likely driven by some dogfighting rings on a former route. One person came forth with information about specific dogfighting rings, which she promptly passed on to the police.
While she realizes dogs might fight outside a dogfighting ring, she says the scars on Rogue prove—to her and the vet, Skyway Animal Hospital—this wasn't a random dog fight.
"He has too many old puncture wounds and scars for this to be an isolated incident," she says. "This has been happening his whole life."
As for the area, Bartlett Park, "people are picking up more and more dogs, especially in this particular area," she says.
Pinellas County Animal Services told Creative Loafing they get few actionable leads – 10 or less – every year. They also say social media and texting dogfight locations make it hard to catch dogfighters.
Reports of dogfighting have locals enraged.
"They better hope that they [the police] find them before one of these pet lovers find them, because it's going to be nasty," Collins said.
She says although she may have to move, she intends to keep Rogue. His medical bills – which continue to mount – may be outside her budget as a government worker, but Skyway Animal Hospital has pledged to treat Rogue regardless. Collins has established a crowdfunding page to help offset his medical bills.
Rogue, she says, so far shows no ill behaviors from his days as a bait dog.
"He's a lover boy, a sweet little puppy, he just wants affection. He's never had it before, so he's all, 'what's this? I can get used to this.'," she says.
Still, she's overwhelmed at the idea of dogfighting.
"This really has to stop," she says.
Anyone with information about this case should call the St. Petersburg Police Department at 727-893-7550 or 727-893-7780 and use case number 2015-024294. Also, call the Humane Society of the United States at 877-TIP-HSUS.
This article appears in May 14-20, 2015.