Massachusetts man arrested for alleged dog-fighting operation

BOSTON, Mass. (WLNE) — A Hanson man was arrested Friday for running an alleged dogfighting operation out of his home.

John Murphy, 50, was indicted on nine counts of possessing animals for use in an animal fighting operation in violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act.

Police found numerous items in Murphy’s home associated with a dogfighting venture including syringes, antibiotics, injectable anabolic steroids, a skin stapler, forceps, equipment used to train dogs and a breeding stand used to immobilize female dogs during breeding.

A civil forfeiture complaint was also filed against 13 “pitbull-type” dogs, seized from Murphy’s residence in June 2023 and an additional residence in Townsend, Massachusetts.

The dogs showed evidence of scarring and are currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Other items found and seized at both locations include training equipment, veterinary supplies, dog fighting literature, DVDs, and/or CD-ROMs, kennels used to house dogs individually, and break sticks, which dogfighters use to force open a dog’s bite onto another dog’s body.

Murphy is also alleged to have communicated with other dogfighters on Facebook where the results of dogfights were discussed, as well as injuries sustained by fighting dogs, and dog breeding.

He is also alleged to be part of private Facebook groups used to buy and sell fighting dogs and exchange information.

These accounts contained a photo of a pitbull-type dog with scarring and discolorations on its head and leg according to authorities.