Target: Jody Willoughby, District Attorney of Etowah County, Alabama
Goal: Secure the harshest felony penalties and a lifetime animal-ownership ban for the individual reportedly caught with wounded, chained fighting dogs.
Investigators reportedly uncovered a grisly scene behind a rural property where at least nine dogs were seized amid signs of organized dog fighting. According to authorities, the animals were discovered chained or caged, bearing open wounds and infections that are consistent with having been forced into violent combat. Dog-fighting equipment was also allegedly strewn across the site, painting a horrifying picture of systematic cruelty.
This raid, as reported, follows a separate recent investigation in the same county where ten more dogs were rescued under similar circumstances. The unsettling pattern suggests that dogs in the community may be routinely exploited for deadly blood sport. Each discovery further underscores the urgent need for uncompromising enforcement of Alabama’s dog-fighting laws and stringent sentencing for offenders.
Dog fighting is a felony in Alabama because it subjects sentient beings to prolonged terror, pain, and often death—all for gambling profits. Anything less than the maximum penalty risks sending a message that such brutality carries minimal consequences. A lifetime prohibition on keeping animals is likewise critical to ensure these innocent beings are never again placed in harm’s way. This petition therefore calls upon the district attorney to pursue the toughest possible charges and sentences available under state law.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear District Attorney Willoughby,
An active investigation reportedly uncovered nine dogs chained or caged on private property, many of them suffering from open wounds linked to organized fighting. Officers also allegedly seized dog-fighting tools, reinforcing concerns that these animals were forced to maul one another for entertainment and profit.
Compounding the outrage, this case comes on the heels of a separate investigation in the county that rescued ten more dogs from similarly dire-seeming conditions. The apparent recurrence highlights an urgent need for a strong prosecutorial response that will deter future acts of cruelty and protect all animals within your jurisdiction.
We respectfully urge your office to pursue the maximum felony charges, push for the longest allowable prison sentences, and seek a permanent ban on animal ownership for anyone found guilty. Only a decisive penalty will deliver justice for these traumatized dogs and send a clear warning that dog fighting will not be tolerated.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Suman Sutradhar
