Robert Yanochko on April 8 was among a crew of Flagler County maintenance workers at Shell Bluff, the county park near the Putnam County line, when someone walking a dog approached him to report that a puppy was in a ditch, curled up and looking unwell. It had been raining on and off all week. Yanochko observed that the ground beneath the puppy was dry, suggesting that the puppy was dropped there that morning.
He called Caroline Johnson, founder and director of the Palm Coast-based Saving Missing Animals Response Team, the nonprofit known as SMART. She drove to the park. “She couldn’t lift her head at all, she was curled up, pretty much lifeless,” Johnson said of the black and white pit bull mix soon given the name Shelly. “No strength to move her head or get up. You could see the pain in her eyes. It was awful.”
Not thinking the worst, Johnson at first thought Shelly may have been suffering from the contagious parvovirus that attacks puppies, an infection that debilitates young dogs and requires intensive treatment. On closer inspection, Johnson realized it was not that at all. She had injuries throughout her body. Maggots had burrowed into them. Shelly may have been the victim of something more sinister than an illness or neglect. She took her to East Coast Animal Hospital in Palm Coast and reported the incident to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
ECAH veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Garrett, in a statement to a sheriff’s deputy, reported that “the injuries are deep and superficial and appear to be dog bites,” according to the sheriff’s incident report. “There were wounds on her face, chest and forelimbs and there were maggots present in many of her deeper wounds. Dr. Garrett stated this is consistent with illegal dog fighting operations. Dr. Garrett stated Shelly was severely lethargic, dehydrated, and cold. Dr. Garrett furthered by saying Shelly’s overall condition was also considered to be poor and suggested that she has been neglected. Due to her injuries on her face and four limbs, they are severely swollen and estimate the injuries to have occurred within the week.”
Dog fighting is illegal but continues underground. The ASPCA and Flagler County government’s attorney’s office in 2018 held a detailed seminar for 60 police officers and animal control officers in the region that illustrated the telltale signs and incidence of the subculture, with actual exhibits of dog-fighting paraphernalia collected from dog fighters. (See:“ASPCA in Flagler Shows Lurid World of Animal Cruelty and Its Kin to Domestic Violence and Other Crimes.”)
Only this week federal authorities arrested a 49-year-old Boston man on charges connecting him to a multi-year dog-fighting operation. The charging affidavit notes that “Dogfighters today tend to communicate with each other via text messages, Facebook, email, or website chat rooms dedicated to ‘game dogs.’ Dogfighters routinely ‘hook’ matches and exchange documents, expertise, photographs, or videos relating to dogfighting activities via email and other electronic means. Social media offers individuals who engage in animal fighting with the ability to communicate using text messages and audio calls, transmit and receive pictures and videos of animal fighting, and establish and widen animal fighting networks.”
Dogs victimized by fighting rings typically show scars on the face, front legs, hind ends and thighs. Shelly presented with some of that scarring, not all of it recent. “She has some old scarring, which is significant of old wounds,” Johnson said. When she was recovered, Shelly exhibited a smell of decomposition, with “dead skin wounds so open and so deep that they had to do surgery to basically cut away all the dead flesh and flush out all the infections.”
At this point there is no way to prove that she was involved in dog fighting, only to suspect that she was. “We’re seeing a lot of abuse overall but the dog fighting, every once in a while you get one dumped in a ditch, kind of on death row basically,” Johnson said.
There are some surveillance cameras at the Shell Bluff park, but the sheriff’s Real Time Crime Center tried to locate a vehicle with the puppy in plain view without success. “Further investigation is required,” the incident report states.
It was a battle at first, especially the first two days, but Shelly has been recovering and is expected to survive, to be healthy, and to get adopted. “We’ve had so many people reach out, seeing her spirit and her injuries, offering her a home,” Johnson said. She described Shelly’s more recent vivacity, playfulness and affection with people, kissing them and playing with toys, though when the suffering returns, it is apparent in her eyes.
“She’s incredible, she has one of the most amazing personalities, she’s playful, she’s playing with toys already, wagging her tail and kissing everybody,” Johnson said. “You can see the brightness spark in her eyes that wasn’t there before.” Shelly remains very cautious with other dogs.
“Regardless of whether it was dog fighting or somebody’s dog who got into a really bad fight and they duped her there because she was too far gone,” Johnson said, “it’s criminal and disgusting for somebody to dump her there without care.”
Pogo says
“… Illegal Dog Fighting”
Sums up the entire world.
JimboXYZ says
When they catch these dog fighting ring operators. Max penalties, prison time. they’re the people in this community that nobody wants around. Thank God this poor animal got away from them, any way possible.
Bill Boots says
Comment disallowed.
Keep Flagler Beautiful says
You must feel awfully good about yourself, making a pathetic joke of a story of tremendous suffering and abuse.
FlaglerLive says
That comment was taken down. Thanks for flagging it.
Bill Boots says
This was a tongue in cheek distastefull comment I posted to show the equally distasteful “TDS” comments and replies posted here nearly everyday out of hate!
Gina Weiss says
Thank you Caroline Johnson you are THE REAL DEAL, truly the BEST and our HERO!
Boyd says
What I want to say would get me banned for life, so I’ll just say man I wish John Wick was real.
Atwp says
Sad, what about abused children?
FlaPharmTech says
We just donated $100.00 towards Shelly’s recovery. If you’re able, please consider donating. This donation is in memory of my heart, Meeks Jagger, an American Bully pup found on a street in Miami, vehicle dragged on purpose by a shite human. He may have been a bait dog. I fell in love, thinking he had a horrible case of mange. He was skinned!
Laurel says
I just watched a 23 minute YouTube piece that showed how all kinds of animals react when they’re reunited with a caretaker. They run, jump up and hug, and they hold that hug for a long time! Every kind of animal from lions to seals, to water buffalos and warthogs, even rhinos and hippos, run to express their emotions to their caretakers! This means they love, miss and care for those who cared for them. Watching a Koala run to a caretaker with arms open wide is so endearing!
Then, there are the humans who are so sick, so shallow and so careless, to never see, or know the love available to them. They abuse and discard that love. Pitiful.
Paul Larkin says
I also want to salute Caroline and her helpers at SMART as genuine local heroes adding sweetness, love and caring to what can be a cruel world. Thank you Caroline
DM Francis says
Who remembers NFL player Michael Vick back in the early 2000’s? He was busted as being a big deal at a dog fighting ring, held on his estate in southeast Virginia. He lost his lucrative job.
We lived in VA in that area at the time so the news was full of it. From a quick google search:
Michael Vick was involved in a high-profile dogfighting operation called Bad Newz Kennels, which led to federal convictions, prison time, and the rescue and rehabilitation of dozens of pit bulls.
Background of the Case
In April 2007, authorities executed a search of Michael Vick’s property in Surry County, Virginia, uncovering evidence of an interstate dogfighting ring known as Bad Newz Kennels. Over 70 dogs, primarily pit bulls, were seized, many showing signs of abuse and injuries. Investigators found dogfighting equipment, bloodstains, and other evidence of cruelty, including brutal executions of dogs that lost fights through hanging, drowning, electrocution, or shooting. The operation also involved illegal gambling and drug activity.
Legal Consequences
Vick and three co-defendants were indicted on federal and state felony charges related to dogfighting. In August 2007, Vick pled guilty to a federal conspiracy charge and was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison. He was suspended indefinitely from the NFL, lost endorsement deals, and faced financial difficulties, including filing for bankruptcy. The case drew national attention and led to stricter federal sentencing guidelines for animal fighting.
Fate of the Dogs
The ASPCA and other animal welfare organizations assisted in evaluating and rehabilitating the rescued dogs. Of the 49 pit bulls assessed, only one was deemed unfit for rehabilitation; the remaining dogs were placed in sanctuaries and rescue organizations, including BAD RAP and Best Friends Animal Society, and many were eventually adopted by the public. The last surviving dog from Vick’s operation, Frodo, passed away in 2019 at about 15 years old.
Vick’s Later Reflections
In interviews years later, Vick expressed regret for his actions, acknowledging the lasting impact on his reputation and career. He described the events as a youthful mistake and emphasized his ongoing responsibility toward animal welfare, though he noted that public attention on the case has largely faded.
Impact
The Michael Vick dogfighting case raised national awareness of animal cruelty, influenced federal and state legislation, and highlighted the importance of rehabilitation for abused animals. It remains one of the most widely publicized examples of organized dogfighting in the United States.
THANK YOU CAROLINE JOHNSTON AND ALL THE SMART VOLUNTEERS for the amazing work you do! We also donated to Shelly’s care and attended the fundraiser at the Elks last weekend. The work they do is tireless. Caroline had surgery earlier this week and was still monitoring messages from her hospital bed. True dedication.
just wait for it says
Espanola, go down Knox Jones Rd to the back, everyone knows that there is dog fighting going on back there. reported about 4-5 years ago, still going on
FlaPharmTech says
I encourage Sheriff Staley to investigate!
Sally says
If that is true please call Flagler Animal Services and Flagler County Sheriff Office both will investigate.