Chicago Court Makes Dog Fighters Fund Victims' New Life

When Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, his deputies, and Chicago P.D. busted up a dog fight in November 2008, it was a gruesome scene, with two dogs injured after being forced to fight amid a crowd cheering on the brutality. The attendees included two teenagers and a pregnant woman. One of the dogs was near death.

Now, both the dogs — Brutus and Remus — are on their way to a better life, and the defendants who abused them are paying for it with cold, hard cash.

Although the Chicago Sun Times, on Nov. 17, 2008, said that both dogs were "reportedly euthanized," the paper got it  wrong. The pit bulls were not summarily killed, but waited (and waited, and waited) at Chicago Animal Care and Control. These victims of abuse served a sentence of 1 year, 7 months, and 13 days.

Luckily, the dogs were the beneficiaries of a much-needed change in policy regarding all court-case dogs, thanks to Mayor Richard Daley's new CACC Executive Director, Cherie Travis.

In the past, the animal victims held as evidence for long periods of time at CACC did not make it out alive. However, under Travis, a program of care and compassion for animals who have been seized in court cases was implemented  with the help of Safe Humane Chicago and Best Friends Animal Society. Now, the dogs undergo behavioral evaluations for possible placement.

Trainer Janice Triptow evaluated and worked with Brutus and Remus and decided that a sanctuary setting was appropriate for them. She described Brutus as a quiet, easygoing dog, eager to relax with human company. Remus, on the other hand, is intensely energetic. He plays hard with toys and is always looking for ways to amuse himself.

Cook County Circuit Judge Victoria Stewart wanted to make sure these victims were compensated. So, the judge ordered the defendants to pay $10,872 in lifetime care for the two, plus $9,000 to CACC. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary didn't have room for the two dogs, but Spirit Animal Sanctuary, outside of Boonville, N.Y., stepped up and agreed to take the dogs if Best Friends could arrange transport.

I think the defendants should have received jail time, too, serving as much time as Brutus and Remus did, but they didn't. Instead, they were sentenced to 24 months of probation and were barred from contact with animals. In addition to the financial restitution to CACC and Spirit Animal Sanctuary, they have to take anger-management programs, which include training involving sensitivity to animals — important recognition that these criminals are violent offenders.

The good news is this is the first time a judge in a Cook County dog fighting case remained committed to saving the dogs and rightly viewed them as the victims. Unfortunately, Judge Stewart is retiring from the bench as of July 31, 2010. We wish her well, and hope Brutus and Remus will find their forever homes through the Spirit Animal Sanctuary. Good karma for all victims of cruelty.

Photo Credit: Brutus by Kathleen Budrean, Safe Humane Chicago