Sixty-nine dogs rescued from a suspected dog fighting operation are getting a well-deserved second chance.
It’s a happy change of fate for these dogs; for a while it looked like they might have been freed from abuse only to be euthanized by their rescuers. Now, officials say, it’s possible many of the dogs can be saved.
2006 court order, and Nicole “Nickie” Sanders have been charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty.
Their alleged victims’ troubles were far from over once the pair was in custody.
Donna Wood, a spokesperson for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, told WFLA that the dogs were “extremely aggressive” and would likely be euthanized.
Wood blamed Grant and Sanders for this outcome.
“You have tied other’s people’s hands now,” Wood said, according to WFLA. “You have placed us into a situation to where there is no way we would take the responsibility of potentially placing a child or elderly person at risk.”
It was an outrageous turn to animal lovers who’ve been heartened to see a growing understanding that many dogs rescued out of fighting can go on to be safe and loving family dogs.
“It is immoral and horrific the amount of abuse these dogs suffered,” reads an online petition against euthanizing the dogs. “How sinful — they are rescued from these evil people, only to be killed???”
Deirdre Franklin, president of the advocacy group Pinups for Pitbulls, echoed that sentiment to The Huffington Post.
“We owe it to these dogs to give them the chance that was initially robbed from them to be a dog and to know the love of a human,” she said. “These dogs deserve a chance, there are people waiting to give them that chance and we can make much better use of our resources by ensuring that good dogs find great homes.”