Keep the Man Accused of Dogfighting in Richland County Behind Bars and Protect 11 Rescued Dogs

I'm Eric, and I run I Love Every Dog. These dogs deserve better than what they were given.

On November 6, state agents executed a search warrant on a property in Hopkins, in Richland County, South Carolina, and removed 11 dogs. Thomas Hoefer, 57, was charged with animal fighting and ill treatment of animals. The dogs showed scarring and untreated medical conditions. The ASPCA took them in for treatment and for forensic veterinary and behavioral evaluations.

Hoefer is being held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, and prosecutors will now decide how aggressively to move forward.

I'm asking the Fifth Judicial Circuit Solicitor to prosecute every charge the evidence supports, to oppose any easy bond or reduced plea, and to ask the court to order forfeiture of the dogs so they can never be returned to the person accused of hurting them, along with a ban on owning animals.

These dogs survived. Let's make sure the system backs them up. Please sign and share.