and arrested 41-year-old Drew Geer after executing search warrants at two Lake Butler properties on Wednesday.

The operation, conducted at addresses on Northwest 71st Run and West County Road 18, resulted in the removal of animals found in poor conditions and involved assistance from animal rescue and veterinary forensics teams. Advocacy groups and some research estimates have suggested that tens of thousands of people in the U.S. may be involved in underground dogfighting and that many thousands of dogs suffer or die each year as a result of this cruelty, though precise national figures are difficult to verify.

Deputies served search warrants Wednesday at the two properties in Lake Butler, and officers took one person into custody. Drew Geer, 41, was charged with drug possession and possession of a firearm by a felon, authorities said.

Investigators found dogs that had been kept in filthy conditions and showed signs of prior injuries. Many bore scars consistent with long-term mistreatment, as rescued dogs from dogfighting operations frequently suffer long-term physical issues, including chronic pain from untreated injuries and severe musculoskeletal damage. Rescuers reported makeshift shelters such as plastic barrels and crude wooden structures.

“Their scars tell a heartbreaking story—the sadness and suffering these dogs have endured is unimaginable,” said Kate MacFall, Florida state director of Humane World for Animals. “Plastic barrels, two by fours that were nailed together, some kind of little bit of shelter that was not sufficient and the chains of course.” Experts note that trauma from dogfighting and chronic mistreatment can lead to behavioral issues that may complicate some dogs’ rehabilitation.

The rescue was a coordinated effort. Human World for Animals assisted in removing the dogs from the locations, and veterinarians from the University of Florida Veterinary Forensics Science Laboratory aided the operation alongside the Union County Sheriff’s Office. Community engagement and multi-agency cooperation are widely recommended by animal-welfare experts as ways to identify stakeholders, educate residents, and coordinate responses to prevent cruelty such as dogfighting.

Union County Sheriff Brad Whitehead praised the interagency response. “We would like to thank all the agencies that have been involved in this intensive multi-agency investigation and those that assisted us today to help save these animals. Thanks to Humane World for Animals and Veterinarians from the University of Florida Veterinary Forensics Science Laboratory for assisting our agency. We continue to prove that our agency will not tolerate animal abuse and blatant criminal behavior,” he said.

Authorities removed the animals from the two properties on Northwest 71st Run and West County Road 18 and transferred them for veterinary evaluation and care. Human World for Animals and the University of Florida Veterinary Forensics Science Laboratory were named by officials as partners in that effort. WCJB

The sheriff’s office led the investigation and the rescue operation at the Lake Butler sites. Deputies and partner agencies worked at the scene Wednesday to document conditions and remove animals for treatment and safekeeping.

As part of the response, the agencies on site collected evidence and arranged for veterinary assessments through forensic specialists to document the animals’ conditions, which are critical for any potential legal proceedings against those responsible for the abuse.

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