Dogfighter Must Complete AniCare Counseling
On March 6, a Michigan man convicted of four counts of illegal dogfighting was ordered to complete the ASI’s AniCare counseling program as part of his sentencing. Ricky Lee Lynch, Jr., also received five years of probation, 500 hours of community service, and must pay a $15,000 fine. He is also banned from owning or possessing animals for several years. Police had found more than a dozen dogs, fight logs and dogfighting equipment on his property; 17 of his dogs were euthanized. Lynch reportedly agreed to provide information to help police investigate other dogfighters.

Although the ASI believes dogfighting warrants stiff penalties, including jail time, we are pleased that courts continue to order AniCare counseling to assess and treat the underlying psychological factors that contribute to such crimes so that recurrence might be prevented.