Part of the public hearing on Guthertz’s Bill 9-31, relative to keeping dogs on Guam, touched on the subject of dog fighting.
Variety reported a few weeks ago that there have been wide reports of dog fighting on island, but the secret is so well kept that authorities find it difficult to enforce the law.
Several sources told Variety of dog fighting rings around the island and details surrounding the process of a staged dog fight which is considered an illegal gambling activity.
During the hearing, Guam territorial veterinarian Dr. Thomas Poole told Guthertz of his knowledge of an FBI agent by the name of “Bowman” who was a “reliable witness” in dog fighting.
“I’ve heard from many witnesses, some who have attended fights and others who have heard people talk about fights they attended. Occasionally, in that back road to Andersen along Route 15 on Sunday mornings, there are occasionally a number of dog carcasses out there. I don’t know if the dog fighting occurs near there or where it’s happening, but it’s my belief that dog fighting still exists,” Poole told Guthertz.
Guthertz said there have been anonymous calls made to her office about law enforcement officers themselves participating in dog fights.
In a letter to U.S. Attorney Alicia Limtiaco, Guthertz asked for support in cracking down on dog fighting on Guam.
“I urge you to empower our federal agencies in Guam, perhaps the island’s Federal Bureau of Investigation field office, to investigate these inhumane acts and put these individuals on notice that our island community will not tolerate these acts of cruelty,” Guthertz wrote.
“Given your background and work with domestic violence programs and victims, I need not espouse the link between domestic violence, murder and assault with origins that encompass animal cruelty and neglect,” she added.
