Karma's Reunion: One Year After the Largest Dog Fighting Bust in History

On July 10, a touching  reunion took place at the Humane Society of Missouri, commemorating the first anniversary of the largest dog-fight bust in history. The bust involved eight states, where more than 500 dogs — victims of cruelty — were seized and housed for months. If these dogs had been seized under Missouri laws, not the federal statute, they might still be awaiting their freedom.

Our Karma — aka Maalinda — was an alumna of the bust that occurred in Western Missouri. Only one year old at the time, she was transported to a fight-bust bunker at an undisclosed location in St. Louis, entering the dog equivalent of the witness protection program. She was there until Halloween, when we adopted her, sight unseen. She was well worth the gamble.

Unfortunately, the federal courts in Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas have yet to release some of the dogs; a year later they are still caged while the perpetrators that fought them are free. As a sign of solidarity with the dogs that had died, the dogs that are still incarcerated awaiting court disposition,and Karma's kin that are still searching for homes, it was important that we, as a family, attend the memorial.

I'm not the reunion sort, but this was cathartic; I would not have missed it. So many people gathered together who cared about the dogs, clutching the survivors who are still looking for forever homes. Volunteers and employees were freely crying, and so many happy dogs who escaped the hell of dog fighting licked their owners as we watched a moving video of the operation. Oh, and the photos, by such wonderful photographers as Mike Bizelli and Lynn Terry. I cried, too.

Karma didn't understand why Mom was crying — she was as happy as she always is. She proved a hit with the other attendees. Some of the caretakers remembered her, and she clearly recognized them, licking them and trying to hug them, thanking them for their good guardianship. Someone asked if she was going to Mardi Gras because she was decked out in a wispy rainbow collar; my husband, Cliff, replied, "Every day is Mardi Gras for Karma." It is now.

Despite the plethora of pit bulls in the auditorium — all rescued from a fighting ring — no fights ensued.

Initially, HSMO wasn't sure how many of these dogs would be damaged, and hence unadoptable. They thought they might be able to save 5 to 10 percent. That was a gross underestimate: 70 percent of the pit bulls turned out to be lovers. In addition to HSMO, rescue groups from all over the nation stepped up to help find homes for the dogs — organizations such as Mutts N Stuff, ASPCA, Best Friends Animal Society, Our Pack, Bad Rap, Animal Farm Foundation and Game Dog Guardians, just to name a few.

If you are interested in adopting one of Karma's friends or relatives rescued from this case, there are still some wonderful dogs available:

• Laffy Taffy and Violet are still searching for someone to share their home with. (Note that little Laffy Taffy only weighs 25 pounds!)
• Lucy, Sorbert, Patience, Petunia and Sir Reginald Farnsworth are awaiting you at Mutts N Stuff, and some were in attendance at the party.
• Joy is still at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, looking for the right match.
• And, of course, there are numerous sweet pitties at HSMO.

In addition to her Mardi Gras collar, Karma wore her Game Dog Guardian T-shirt to the shindig. The shirt's message read: "It's your turn to fight for me." We will. We will fight to bring animal abusers to justice.  We will fight to change the Missouri law that says dogs from fight busts have to wait out the court proceedings to find new families or even go into foster care. We will fight to find loving homes for the victims.

Photo credit: Karma by Lynn Terry