WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Midlands store owners taking dog fighting DVD's off the racks

Midlands store owners taking dog fighting DVD's off the racks

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - WIS News 10 was tipped off to crude dog fighting DVD's being sold at a local convenience store - right out in the open. Store owners say the report alerted them to what type of material they may be selling. 

Right after our original story aired, WIS News 10's Dan Tordjman got phone calls and e-mails from viewers absolutely disgusted that stores are selling videos that depict vicious dog fights - DVD's like "Unleashed."

Now at least one other store tells Dan it's pulling separate dog fighting DVDs - not wanting to take any chances - after seeing the report.

Store manager Peggie-Lee D. White is pulling three dog fighting DVD's from a rack. She tells WIS News 10 she didn't even realize what she was selling until the investigation Thursday found the DVD's - depictions of bloody dog fights that have made their way to the Midlands. She says a "coworker saw it on the news."

"As soon as I found out there was a problem with the DVD - dog fights and all - I immediately removed it from the shelves."

"The person who is promoting this type of illegal activity needs to be held responsible," says Ann Chynoweth of the Humane Society of the US.

She says she's seen the DVD's in other states - but these are some of the first in South Carolina. They've proven hard to trace - the only clues, on one DVD - a logo and an advisory claiming the fights were filmed in Mexico. "We might not know who's participating in dog fighting on the videos, might not even know who filmed it - but we do know who's selling the DVD's and promoting animal cruelty."

"I can imagine it's terrible. If it's illegal we don't want to advertise it," says White.

And anyone who does sell, buy or own the DVD's could be subject to fines, even prison time. So, this shop isn't taking any chances, selling one less item on a busy Friday.

Again, the shop managers say they didn't know what they were selling because the DVD's were put there by an independent vendor. The vendor tells WIS News 10 he got them from a wholesaler at a flea market. And for now, that's where the DVD trail runs dry.

Previous story:

• Video sold at West Columbia gas station depicts dog fighting

Reported by Dan Tordjman

Posted by Chantelle Janelle