GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - South Carolina is busting more illegal dogfighting rings than ever before, and investigators say people still don’t understand how common the crime is and why it’s a safety issue for everyone.

In 2024, the State Law Enforcement Division, better known as SLED, rescued more than 200 dogs from illegal fighting rings.

“It is in every county in our state and it is in neighborhoods, and it is in backyards,” said Dr. Jennifer Bonovich, a forensic veterinarian.

Evidence from crime scenes

Bonovich is one of the state’s few forensic veterinarians. When SLED makes a bust, she gets a call.

“Just like in the human side, when we have to document bruises and potentially bite marks or stab wounds, a dog is its own crime scene and bite marks are evidence,” Bonovich sa

See Full Page