HAPEVILLE | Dogfighting tips dry up as crackdown continues | News

ATLANTA -- Calls to a special hotline for dogfighting tips have slowed down in recent months, according to a private security firm that investigates the tips.

"Either we're making a difference, they're going underground or they're going out of state," said Greg Norred, CEO of Norred & Associates. "I'd like to think we're making a difference."

For the the past four years, Norred has invested his own money to set up a tipline and train four of his private detectives to pursue dogfighting cases.

He said he was motivated by the Michael Vick in 2007. 

"I guess I'm a sucker for animals. I think these fighting dogs have been dealt a bad hand," Norred said. "Sappy as it sounds, I can't turn my back on them."

To date, Norred's firm has rescued more than 850 dogs in 31 raids, with close to 50 arrests. 

The most recent tip involved a property in Spalding County.

Last week, Spalding County animal control officers executed an inspection warrant last week.

They found 25 pit bulls chained up and cited the owners for a range of violations that could lead to fines of up to $20,000.

But they didn't have enough evidence to seize the dogs or file criminal charges.

"We had suspicion there was a dogfighting operation there," Norred said. "We at least did something to make an impact there and hopefully it will deter anything like that from that group, again."

Here dogfighting tipline: 1-877-215-2250.

There's also a special website for tips, www.helpstopdogfighting.com.