Dogs saved from alleged dog fighting ring euthanized

9 of 11 rescued dogs put down

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – In a Local 10 exclusive, Animal Advocate Jacey Birch reports that 9 of the 11 dogs recently saved from an alleged dog fighting ring and meant to be adopted out to good homes have been put down instead.

Dog trainer Jason Borden specializes in rehabilitating bully breeds, and that's exactly what he's done for a now socialized, healthy and happy pit bill named Cinnabun, one of the two dogs that made it out alive of Broward County Animal Care after they were saved from the dog fighting ring.

"I've seen her go from totally aggressive and wanting to attack every dog in here, to sleeping with them, eating with them," Borden said.

Just six weeks ago, Cinnabun was part of the 11 bait and breeding dogs removed from the home of Derek McNair, who was arrested and charged with animal cruelty.

At the time, there were high hopes all of the dogs would be rescued, rehabilitated and adopted out.

Dahlia Canes of the Miami Coalition Against Breed Specific Legislation, was involved in saving some of the dogs.

"Unfortunately, for numerous reasons -- including lack of space at the shelter and no rescues coming forth, no adopters coming forth -- the rest of them had to be humanely euthanized," Canes said.

What went wrong with these dogs in trying to get them rescued and rehabilitated and adopted?

"Once people mention a fighting pit bull, they automatically think the dog isn't fixable when in fact, the dog is fixable," Borden said.

Only two dogs made it out alive of the shelter where they were being kept. The majority were euthanized for what the county claims were "severe upper respiratory issues" as a result of kennel stress and health complications due to the conditions in which they were found.

Canes said the fact that the dogs were pit bulls was mostly to blame for the lack of adopters and rescue groups coming forth to save them.

"The stigma of fighting dogs and pit bulls associated with them is definitely a deterrent," she said.

Two-year-old Cinnabun was the oldest in the bunch and deemed the most problematic. But Borden thinks she will be ready for a new home in just two more months.

"I don't look at them as fighting dogs," Borden said. "I look at them as souls that were misdirected by the wrong people."