COLUMBIA, S.C. — Animal cruelty cases often involve far more than rescuing an abused or neglected animal, according to South Carolina law enforcement officers and animal welfare advocates.
Investigators say cases involving animal fighting, abuse and neglect can reveal connections to other criminal activity, including illegal drugs, weapons offenses and domestic violence.
“Dogfighting is big right now and it’s a nexus,” said Justin Wyatt, deputy chief of the Horry County Police Department. “You see dogfighting that goes along with drug abuse and drugs and all types of domestic abuse. And there’s a cycle that goes along with it.”…