11 Dogs Rescued in South Carolina Dogfighting Investigation

Eleven dogs are receiving specialized care after South Carolina law-enforcement officers and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) carried out a rescue operation at a rural Richland County property connected to a suspected dogfighting investigation.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) announced on November 6, 2026, that Thomas Hoefer, 57, had been charged with animal fighting and ill treatment of animals.

According to SLED’s official announcement, the operation involved assistance from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Columbia Police Department and ASPCA.

Hoefer was booked into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. The Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office will handle the prosecution.

The charges are allegations, not convictions. Investigators have not announced a final determination of criminal responsibility.

Search of Rural Property Leads to Rescue

Investigators executed a search warrant at a property on Goodside Road near Hopkins, southeast of Columbia.

According to WIS News 10’s November 6 reporting, authorities discovered equipment associated with organized dogfighting in the property’s yard.

Among the items reportedly found was a slat mill, a nonmotorized treadmill-like device that investigators said can be used to condition dogs for fighting.

The presence of such equipment is part of the evidence being evaluated in the investigation. Its discovery alone does not establish that a particular animal participated in a fight or that a defendant committed a crime.

Investigators also reported that Hoefer identified himself as the dogs’ owner, according to the affidavit described by local news outlets.

Eleven dogs were removed from the property during the operation.

Veterinary Specialists Identify Medical Concerns

The ASPCA reported that veterinary forensic specialists observed dogs with scarring and untreated medical conditions.

Those findings prompted the need for additional examinations and treatment after the animals were removed.

In its November 6 rescue announcement, the ASPCA confirmed that the dogs were being transported to one of its recovery facilities.

The organization will provide ongoing medical care, behavioral support and specialized evaluations intended to help each animal recover while assisting investigators in documenting the evidence.

The available reporting does not establish the individual ages, breeds, names or complete medical histories of the eleven dogs.

It also does not provide an adoption timetable or confirm that the animals have been legally cleared for placement.

Forensic Veterinary Examinations Support Investigation

Veterinary forensic examinations can play an important role in suspected animal-fighting cases.

Specialists may document injuries, scarring, untreated conditions and other physical findings relevant to determining how animals were kept and whether they may have experienced abuse.

Behavioral assessments serve a different but equally important purpose: identifying the care, enrichment and rehabilitation individual dogs may need after removal from an unsafe environment.

The ASPCA is assisting with both aspects of the investigation.

Its responsibilities include transporting the dogs, arranging appropriate treatment, providing investigative and legal support, and conducting veterinary and behavioral evaluations.

Those examinations may become relevant to future legal proceedings, but their findings should not be treated as proof of guilt before the evidence is evaluated through the judicial process.

Multiple Agencies Coordinate Rescue

The November 6 operation involved SLED, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Columbia Police Department and the ASPCA.

Such investigations often require coordination among criminal investigators, animal-handling personnel, veterinary specialists and organizations capable of providing extended shelter and rehabilitation.

The ASPCA’s involvement means the rescued dogs can receive specialized attention while law enforcement continues examining the suspected operation.

ASPCA President and CEO Matt Bershadker emphasized the importance of cooperation and sustained resources in protecting dogs removed from suspected fighting environments.

SLED Chief Mark Keel also reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to investigating dogfighting with law-enforcement and animal-welfare partners.

Part of a Broader South Carolina Enforcement Effort

The Richland County investigation follows another suspected dogfighting rescue in South Carolina.

In October 2026, the ASPCA assisted the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and SLED with the removal of ten dogs, including a puppy, from a property in Greenville County.

According to the ASPCA, its partnership with SLED since 2024 has involved more than sixteen dogfighting-related search warrants and removal operations, helping bring more than 200 dogs to safety.

These figures describe the ASPCA’s reported partnership activity and should not be interpreted as a count of criminal convictions.

The separate investigations also should not be assumed to involve the same defendants or a connected criminal organization without supporting evidence.

What Happens to the Eleven Rescued Dogs?

The immediate priority is their medical and behavioral recovery.

Dogs removed from suspected fighting environments may have different physical and emotional needs. Some may require treatment for untreated conditions, while others may need additional time and individualized behavioral care.

The ASPCA has confirmed that the eleven dogs are receiving professional attention at a recovery facility.

It has not publicly established when they may become available for adoption, whether every dog will ultimately be eligible for placement or what specific long-term arrangements will be made.

Those questions depend on each animal’s condition, the continuing investigation and any applicable legal custody requirements.

Investigation Remains Active

SLED has confirmed that the investigation is continuing.

The case will be prosecuted by the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office. No trial outcome or conviction has been announced.

Anyone with information about possible dogfighting activity in South Carolina can contact SLED at tips@sled.sc.gov.

Information should be submitted directly to investigators rather than through public accusations against individuals who have not been charged.

Why This Case Matters for Animal Protection

The rescue of eleven dogs demonstrates the importance of combining criminal investigation with immediate animal-welfare intervention.

When authorities suspect organized animal fighting, removing animals from danger is only the beginning. Veterinary treatment, behavioral rehabilitation, evidence preservation and long-term placement planning may continue long after the initial search.

The ASPCA’s participation provides a framework for addressing those needs while law enforcement investigates the allegations.

For the eleven dogs, the most meaningful development is that they are now receiving care away from the property under investigation.

DefendAnimals.net will monitor confirmed updates about their recovery, any additional charges and the eventual disposition of the criminal case.