A Collaborative Deja Vu

In a dangerous, impoverished area of North St. Louis, the Stray Rescue team responded to yet another awful dogfighting and abuse case, but this time we were not alone. Animal House, city animal control officers, and the police responded to Stray Rescue's call for assistance in a positive and inspiring collaborative animal rescue.

Having been orchestrated by Stray Rescue in order to more effectively and quickly help the animals, it was amazing to see multiple groups working together for the first time. Stray Rescue founder Randy Grim is expecting these collaborations to be the norm instead of the exception.

Four dogs and two cats had been abandoned in a house for over a month. Thankfully they were able to survive off of the food that more compassionate neighbors were able to toss in the house through the open barred windows. Among the suffering companion animals, who were starving and beat up, were two dogs that went to Stray Rescue. One of these dogs was in absolutely horrible shape due to dogfighting and neglect.

A third dog was so aggressive because of the cruelty and heartlessness of the person who was renting the house that she was taken by animal control. She was used for both fighting and breeding, which is uncommon in the dogfighting world.

The fourth dog, a pregnant female pit bull who was present in the house only a couple days ago, was missing. The renter had apparently came back just a day before we showed up to get her.

In yet another terrible turn to the story, it was apparent that children had lived in this extremely unhealthy environment. There was feces all over the floors.

Animal House rescues the two cats and set a trap for a third cat that was reportedly somewhere inside the house.

Luckily, the owner of the rental property reported this abuse case and criminal activity, and a case is being put together in hopes that this person will be charged to the fullest extent of the law. As sad, frustrating, and maddening as these calls are, we are very thankful for the teamwork of the other groups. If there's anything positive we can take from this, it's that together we can have more of an impact and see a more hopeful outcome.

It has taken 9 months, but thankfully people are becoming less afraid to come forward and report these atrocious abuse cases.