24-hour dogfighting tip line to be unveiled by L.A. County prosecutors

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office and the Humane Society of the United States are collaborating to offer a 24-hour tip line -- and a substantial financial incentive for calling it -- to help L.A. County residents report incidents of dogfighting, our colleagues at the L.A. Now blog report.

The tip line will be officially announced at a press conference Tuesday at the office of L.A. County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley.

According to L.A. Now, the tip line will be staffed by both English and Spanish speakers, and those who provide information leading to an arrest or conviction will receive a reward of up to $5,000.

Last month, Pennsylvania authorities unveiled a similar cash-for-tips program that offers up to $5,000 in reward money for information about dogfights, as well as other illegal animal-combat activities like cockfighting. The Humane Society was also involved in the creation of the Pennsylvania program.

Because of the shadowy nature of the dogfighting world, no one knows just how many dogs are made to fight or used as so-called bait dogs, but the Humane Society estimates that more than 250,000 dogs are forced to participate in the blood sport each year in the U.S. alone.

RELATED:
Main Line Animal Rescue takes its pro-pit bull, anti-Michael Vick message to San Diego
Michael Vick speaks out about dogfighting (sort of) at Washington church

-- Lindsay Barnett