NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - An emaciated dog rescued in Northwest Miami-Dade was found with wounds on his face that suggest he was part of a dog fighting ring.
The 2-year-old pup named Nash was found on Monday in the 3200 block of Northwest 37th Street by Bullies-N-Beyond, a nonprofit rescue group.
Nash was found laying on a bed of gravel underneath a broken truck.
Jorge Domingo, a worker in the neighborhood, said the dog was dumped in the warehouse area.
“That is criminal. That’s a criminal act, and besides that, they threw him away,” said Domingo through a translator. “They left him abandoned. That’s criminal to have done something like that.”
Veterinarians treating Nash said his wounds are very likely the result of dog fighting.
“It doesn’t have to be professional dog fighting. It can be a street fight,” said Maria Gaspari with Bullies-N-Beyond. “It’s happening right here in our backyard, in warehouses, basements. It’s happening right here.”
Veterinarians said Nash’s face is covered with oozing wounds that are so swollen he can barely open his eyes.
“You can see all the scars on his arm,” said Dr. Spencer Goldstein.
Nash is now being treated at Biscayne Animal Hospital in North Miami, where he is undergoing surgery.
“After just supportive care for just 24 hours, he’s rebounded dramatically,” said Goldstein, “so I think he’s going to do just fine.”
Dog fighting continues to be a problem here in South Florida, according to experts.
“I don’t know if it requires stricter laws, punishments, but they need to display – I mean, dog fighting is a horrible thing,” said Goldstein. “Look what happens to these guys, and they don’t give them any type of care whatsoever. They throw them out on the streets and either hope they die or it’s always out of their hands. They don’t care.”
It is illegal to participate in dog fights in the state of Florida, but it is difficult to find the people responsible especially in a case like this where information about the dog’s history is unavailable.
Gaspari asks the public to get help if they suspect dog fights are occurring in their neighborhood.
“That’s why we always beg for people to call, do something, call the police, call animal control, call the news, call us,” said Gaspari. “It’s the only way to work as a team because other than that, we are losing the battle.”
Nash is now getting a second chance at life, making him one of the lucky ones to make it out alive after being abused in dog fighting rings.
Click here to learn more about the rescue group.
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