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ANIMAL WATCH - On November 24, 2025, after a lengthy dog-fighting investigation, called “Operation Pitbull," was conducted by various Texas authorities, Newton County Sheriff Colton Havard made a final announcement that a total of 47 people were arrested for dog fighting and illegal gambling.
Thermal-imagining technology was used after a search warrant was served at a property in the Call community in East Texas. During that search almost $74,000 in cash was seized, along with illegal narcotics and firearms, according to the Sheriff’s report.
Sheriff Havard described the crime as one of the most disturbing he has encountered in his 11-year law-enforcement career. "Just to put two dogs in a homemade pit and just let them fight to the death, it's terrible," he told KDFM.
The investigation, which began in March, involved the use of drones and spotters to monitor the ring. Dog fighting is a Class A misdemeanor that could lead to up to one year in jail and/or a $4,000 fine if convicted.
Newton County Dog-Fighting Ring
BACKGROUND OF “OPERATION PITBULL”
The investigation called, "Operation Pitbull," began in March 2025 after the Sheriff’s Office received numerous complaints and tips regarding alleged dog fighting in the Call community, which is about an hour north of Beaumont, TX.
Sheriff Colton Havard in announced in a statement issued on Sunday that “deputies and several other law enforcement agencies converged on the property on Saturday night to serve a search warrant.”
“Before serving the warrant, the Sheriff's Office used a drone equipped with thermal imaging technology, which detected "spotters" on the perimeter of the property. Authorities said these individuals are commonly used to alert participants of any approaching law enforcement.”
“When officers arrived, they found an active fight taking place between two dogs inside a pit clearly constructed for the purpose of dog fighting.
“Most of the individuals at the scene initially ran into a wooded area but were ultimately caught.
In total, 45 people were immediately arrested for dog fighting. The large number of arrests required the Newton County Jail staff to use the department’s transport van. The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office responded with two additional transport vans and staff to assist with transport and booking.
Deputies separated the two injured dogs, placing them in kennels before taking them to the Nederland Emergency Veterinarian Clinic for treatment.
"In addition to the arrests, approximately 40 vehicles were reportedly towed from the property. Many of these contained illegal narcotics in plain view, as well as firearms and U.S. currency," according to the Sheriff's Office.
Authorities say they took $73,858 in U.S. currency into evidence at that time and plan to petition the court to seize all currency and other items related to the criminal activity.
PERSONAL COMMITMENT BY SHERIFF
"Dog fighting and animal cruelty will not be tolerated in Newton County. In my years in law enforcement, this is one of the most disturbing crimes I have ever witnessed and the individuals involved should be ashamed of themselves. As your Sheriff, I vow to utilize every resource at our disposal to combat criminal activity in our county," Havard said.
Source: Newton County Sheriff's Office.
Texas Crime and Public Safety: Pets and Animals
The following photos were reportedly taken during the investigation and were published after a “dismantling" of the crime scene:
(The above are not specifically identified in the news report, but are conditions found during the dog-fighting investigation, the Sheriff's office reported and were believed to be related.)
WHY THIS MATTERS TO THE ENTIRE COUNTRY AND WORLD
The evils of dog fighting are not limited just to these gruesome events in which two dogs that are strangers fight and kill each other for no reason, while blood-thirsty spectators watch and bet on who will survive.
The consistent solicitation of donations to save them all indicates humane organizations and local animal shelters, as well as “rescues” which promote this breed are ignoring its penchant for senseless killing -- with the victim often a friendly dog or a human who has treated it kindly and too often a small child who loved the dog.
There are also organizations engaged in dog fighting who want all Pit Bulls “saved” because they know that, if the bloodlines/genetics that arouse the dog to kill another dog on the first visual or physical contact are not consistently reproduced, there will be no dogs to sustain the very lucrative underground dog-fighting industry, which has become even more prosperous with modern communication allowing information regarding preserving the breed and events in other areas or countries to be viewed/shared electronically.
(The photo above was not among the Sheriff’s photos in this case but generically depicts the preliminary act before a staged dog fight, when owners are told to “face your dog” and the dogs are released to attack each other.)
The modern term “pit bull” indicates one of the types of dogs descended through selective breeding to preserve the ability to fight and kill other living beings for no purpose except the need to prevail – this is an instinct, not a learned act. In staged dog fighting, the owners and observers capitalize on this by gambling on the most "game" dog.
SHERIFF DESCRIBES INVESTIGATION IN DETAIL
Sheriff Havard said deputies “executed a search warrant on the evening of November 22 and discovered an active fight between two dogs in a pit constructed specifically for dog fighting. Upon entry by officers, “Most suspects fled into a wooded area but were captured by law enforcement.”
TECHNOLOGY USED BEFORE AND DURING “OPERATION PITBULL”
The Operation Pitbull investigation “started in March 2025 and was based on tips from the public."
"Before serving the warrant," he explained, “deputies used the department’s drone with thermal imaging technology to conduct surveillance for officer safety. The drone located “spotters” positioned around the property’s perimeter to watch for law enforcement and alert participants.”
“When officers arrived, they found the active dog fight in progress. Deputies separated the two fighting dogs and placed them in kennels for safety before transporting them to Nederland Emergency Veterinarian Clinic for treatment of their wounds.”
"There was such a large number of arrests that Newton County Jail staff was required to be called in to assist with a transport van. And, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office provided two additional transport vans and staff to help with transporting suspects and completing the booking process, the report states.
Approximately 40 vehicles on the property belonging to those attending the gruesome event were towed by authorities, who said, “Many contained illegal narcotics in plain view, firearms and cash.”
“Deputies also seized $73,858 in U.S. currency, which the sheriff’s office plans to petition the court to forfeit along with other items related to criminal activity,” the report states.
“Operation Pitbull’-- 45 arrested after major dog-fighting operation is busted in East Texas (Newton County Sheriff's Office)
Multiple agencies from the State and local level assisted in the operation and were credited by the Sheriff’s office. .
“Dog fighting and animal cruelty will not be tolerated in Newton County,” Havard said. “In my years in law enforcement, this is one of the most disturbing crimes I have ever witnessed, and the individuals involved should be ashamed of themselves.”
Above photo shows Pit Bulls “tied out” -- carefully chained far enough apart to have no chance of contact, but just close enough to be a perceived potential danger to each other for food. Females are also often in or near this area. This instinct assures there is an instantaneous reaction to destroy any competitor for food (or mating).
Washington, DC-based, Animal Wellness Action called the raid “one of the most significant dog-fighting enforcement actions in Texas in recent years.
(Phyllis M. Daugherty is a former Los Angeles City employee and a long-time animal welfare advocate. A contributor to CityWatchLA, she is known for her investigative reporting on animal shelter operations, misuse of public funds, and the dangers of poorly regulated pet adoption policies. She is a strong proponent of public safety in animal control, advocating for stricter oversight of aggressive dog breeds, especially pit bulls, and for breed-specific legislation.)
