22 Dogs Rescued from Alleged Dogfighting Operations in Indiana amid 110 Degree Heat: ‘It’s Incomprehensible’

Authorities in Indiana have rescued 22 dogs from what they believe were illegal dogfighting operations in Fort Wayne.

According to a news release from Humane World for Animals, police executed search and seizure warrants at two Fort Wayne properties around 2 p.m. local time on July 29. The organization coordinated the operation with the Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD), the Indiana Gaming Commission, and Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control. The effort came as the area faced extreme heat, with temperatures nearing 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

At one location, officials found dogs struggling in “filthy hutches and cages,” with no water in the blistering heat. Several of the animals reportedly had scarring consistent with prior dogfighting injuries. Inside a shed on the property, investigators found dogfighting-related equipment, including two treadmills and a restraint stand commonly used for breeding.

At the second site, the situation was similarly grim. The release stated that dogs were kept outdoors on heavy chains without adequate shelter, and several were suffering from flystrike, a condition in which flies lay eggs that hatch into maggots and burrow into the skin. Some dogs were confined in tight cages without access to water, and blood spatter was discovered on basement walls.

“Between the suffocating heat, filthy conditions and bodies covered in scars — it’s incomprehensible. Yet these dogs still greeted us with wagging tails and hopeful eyes,” said Samantha Chapman, Indiana state director for Humane World for Animals.

She added, “We are deeply grateful to the Fort Wayne Police Department for intervening in this case and giving these dogs a chance at the lives they deserve.”

All rescued animals have been moved to a secure and undisclosed location where they are receiving care and treatment, according to the organization.

The Fort Wayne Police Department confirmed that the case remains under active investigation. Dogfighting is a felony offense under Indiana law, with penalties of up to five years in prison for participating in or facilitating such acts—including possessing, training, buying, or transporting dogs for dogfighting purposes.

Fort Wayne Police Chief Scott Caudill commended the collaboration, stating: “We are committed to ensuring justice for those involved and providing care for the animals recovered. The Fort Wayne Police Department will continue to take decisive action against any form of animal cruelty to keep our city safe for all its residents — human and animals alike.”