While there has been no evidence of a dog fighting ring off Maria Avenue in Roanoke Rapids, where some 30 pit bulls were discovered during a drug search warrant last week, it is clear the animals were fighting, national and local bloodsport experts said today.

The injuries to one dog pictured on rrspin.com Monday are consistent with dogfighting, said John Goodwin, manager for animal fighting issues for the Humane Society of the United States.

This dog was involved in fighting, according to John Goodwin

Goodwin, recognized as a national expert on animal fighting, said a female pictured on the website appeared to have been bred frequently. “That’s common to replace the ones that have been killed,” he said.

This female was bred repeatedly.

While the arrest and sentencing of Michael Vick caused many dogfighters to lay low, Goodwin said it is hard to say if there is a renewed interest in fighting the animals. “So many ran for cover. Some may be sticking their heads out.”

Still, however, the sport goes on, Goodwin said. “There are fewer magazines and websites, but there are still those who are operating under the shadows from the public.”

Since Vick, 30 new laws were passed and a year after his arrest the number of raids doubled, said Goodwin. “One can really say that without having a Michael Vick, things would have been harder for pit bulls.”

Dogfighting in North Carolina is a Class H felony, Goodwin said. “We think the penalties could be a little stronger.”

Captain James Avens of the Weldon Police Department said he is familiar with Calvin Jerome Champion, the man charged, because the Scoco Park area is a hangout for him.

Scoco Park is also where the police department and Alcohol Law Enforcement agents are conducting a nuisance abatement investigation on a house Roanoke Rapids police say the 24-year-old Champion is allegedly linked to.

While there are no pit bulls at the house on 209 Ransome Circle the police department and ALE is investigating, Avens said there are pockets of them in the neighborhood.

That they are used for fighting, wouldn’t surprise Avens, although there is no intelligence of any rings inside the town limits.

The Halifax County Animal Shelter has 14 of the Brandy Creek dogs, including puppies, said Supervisor Robert Richardson. The remaining dogs are still at Brandy Creek.

Richardson said he doesn’t believe the dog were fought in Halifax County. “In the last five years we’ve been so hard on dog fighting (they’re going to other areas).”

The dogs will remain at the shelter throughout court proceedings in the matter, Richardson said.

Their fate, however, is not an optimistic one. “They’ve not been socialized with other animals,” Richardson said. “You can’t trust them to be around other people’s dogs. More than likely, they will all be put to sleep.”

Because of the number of unsocialized pit bulls the shelter receives, they are no longer available for adoption.

The ones brought in from Brandy Creek, Richardson said, “You can look at them and tell they’ve been fought extensively.”

The legs of this dog show the battle scars.