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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fiona and Rascal were among 89 dogs the ASPCA says it helped remove from a dogfighting operation in July 2021. About three months of medical and behavioral care later, both were adopted by the same woman, and both went on to settle into home life. It did not happen overnight. This is the story of two individual dogs, as the ASPCA told it in April 2023. It is not a forecast for every dog rescued from fighting.
The rescue: July 2021
The ASPCA reports that the 2021 operation spanned Long Island, New York City and several other states. Dogs were found in residences, in places such as basements, garages and sheds. The organization says some had no food or water, and some had scarring, broken teeth and fearful behavior. Fiona and Rascal were among those showing extreme fear. (ASPCA, April 5, 2023)
Recovery in Columbus, Ohio
Both dogs went to the ASPCA Cruelty Recovery Center in Columbus, Ohio, for continued medical and behavioral care. Behavior Specialist Jacque Nikitaras recalled Fiona’s first evaluation: “During her initial evaluation, Fiona was growling, barking and lunging toward people, but it became clear that it was coming from a place of fear.”
What the behavior team did
- Confidence-building exercises tailored to each dog.
- Positive associations: the team paired treats the dogs enjoyed with frightening things, such as new people.
- Leash skills practice for both dogs.
- Car travel practice for Fiona.
The ASPCA says rehabilitation lasted roughly three months. That is the length of these two dogs’ stay, not a standard timeline. By the end, Fiona had become a “helper dog,” supporting other fearful dogs in their rehabilitation. The account says both dogs stayed somewhat fearful and might continue to be, but were ready to be companion animals.
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Adoption day and the first months at home
Becky Spohn was then the ASPCA’s Senior Manager of Facilities. Senior Manager of Animal Behavior Jessi Henry introduced her to Rascal and later Fiona. Spohn adopted both on November 23, 2021, and renamed Fiona Arya.
Spohn said, “The first few months were tough.” Arya was afraid and would hide or run outdoors. Both dogs needed house-training. Spohn worked with them patiently and closely with Arya’s veterinarian.
More than a year later
When the ASPCA published the story, more than a year after adoption, it said the dogs had settled in and were showing distinct personalities. Arya had grown more comfortable meeting people and dogs on walks. The two dogs also supported each other. The story describes their situation at that time and is not a current update.
What adopters can take from it
Spohn’s advice to someone adopting a survivor: “Go in with an open heart. Take your time with them, work with them to earn your trust. Know that they may be terrified of some humans or situations due to the abuse they suffered. They are the biggest babies and just love to cuddle.”
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Several details in the account are practical:
- Expect fear before affection. Fiona’s growling and lunging were fear, not aggression for its own sake, in the behavior team’s reading.
- Don’t assume basics are in place. Both dogs needed house-training.
- Involve a vet. Spohn worked closely with Arya’s veterinarian.
- Use rewards for new experiences. The team’s approach was pairing something the dogs liked, treats, with things that scared them. The source does not name a product, and it does not claim treats alone resolve trauma.
- Allow different paths. Fiona was fearful in her evaluations yet more relaxed outside the kennel, and later helped other dogs. Arya’s adjustment at home still took considerable time.
The ASPCA itself cautions that every dog experiences trauma and healing differently and has specific needs. So the answer to “can a dog rescued from dogfighting be adopted?” is that these two were, after individualized care and with a patient, informed adopter. It is not a promise about any other dog.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.The wider context
The ASPCA says dogfighting is a felony in all 50 states and in the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; check current law before relying on that. It also reports assisting with more than 300 cases in at least 24 states since 2010, and says nearly 6,000 victims have been positively affected through rescue, consultations and investigations. The overview page does not state the year of those figures, and they describe the organization’s own work, not how common dogfighting is. (ASPCA dogfighting overview)
ASPCA President and CEO Matt Bershadker describes it this way: “Dogfighting is more than just a crime. It’s a deep, persistent stain on our national character that, despite being illegal in every state, still disgraces our culture with a shockingly wide diversity of locations, participants and onlookers.”
All quotes here come from ASPCA-published accounts of the dogs’ care and adoption. They are recollections, not independent clinical findings.
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