Mo. man gets 16 months for organizing dog fights

Rick P. Hihath, 56, of St. Joe, was sentenced yesterday in federal court. Officials say he organized dog fights at a friend's farm near Gilman City. Hihath was one of 26 people caught in a federal dogfighting investigation that covered Missouri, Texas and Illinois. Before he was sentenced, Hihath asked for leniency, saying that his family could lose their home if he went away for a long time.

Then the judge saw the videotape, Mark Morris reports:

The video sequence started after a fight, with Bottcher asking, “You wanting to get rid of him, Rick?”

“Yeah,” Hihath replied. They carried the dog outside by the scruff of his neck. Bottcher put a rifle to the dog’s head. Two shots clearly were audible.

Comments

[Keith G. in P.V.]

But organizing boxing matches is legal.

[KCResident]

Yes, Keith, sometimes organizing boxing matches is legal. Usually, however, the "losers" aren't taken out back and shot.

[Marla]

Boxing matches consist of consisting humans. Dogs can't consent to fight for their lives in a fight just to amuse humans. Animal cruelty is the product of pure evil. I can only hope karma will provide true justice for those involved. What kind of person are you if you can abuse an animal or take advantage of an animal’s loyalty only for your own amusement?

[c8h10n4o2]

Boxers aren't usually kept chained up, beaten, and denied food and water or shot if they refuse to fight. That whole pesky human free will thing and the chance to go work at McDonalds if you don't like it actually makes a difference.

[Jimbo-bob]

Kieth G.:

You think this is alright? You must be another from Missouri born with FES.

[dog advocate]

Keith, you are a pathetic loser, you should be locked up with Hihath

[Anarchanon]

Missouri is a big problem state with regards to the animal cruelty laws. We're pretty much an ignorant backwater in that respect, far behind most of the rest of the country.

[Keith G. in P.V.]

Wow! Some of you people have no sense of humor.

Dang me, dang me,
They ought to take a rope and hang me
High from the highest treeeeee.
Woman would you weep for me?

[Chicken George]

Leave Keith alone guys....whad'ya expect from a cat lover?

At least after a cockfight, you can eat the loser.

[Keith G. in P.V.]

Chicken George, there are so many straight lines set up in those 2 lines that I'm speechless!

Boxers, unlike fighting cocks, are worth more alive. There's far more money to rip off from them.

[sly]

Dogs are dogs. In some countries they eat them. That doesn't make it cruel. These dogs don't get treated any worse than ducks intended for foie gras, or calfs intended for veal. Some of these PETA nuts go too far. Like the woman in PA they wanted to prosecute because she pierced the ears of her cat. Then there was the prosecution of that guy for animal cruelty because he tried treating his dog himself instead of sending him to the vet.

How about they prosecute the criminals who actually hurt, you know, people???

[Chuck McRizzo]

They do sly.

And your argument that in some countries they eat dogs is a red herring. Thats like me saying in some countries woman are considered property so if I beat my wife its cool because other countries do it differently. Unfortunately for your argument dogs in this country aren't treated that way and are protected as such under the law.

Think about it, do you really believe someone who can just walk a dog outside and pop it twice because it lost an illegal fight is an upstanding member of the community to begin with?

[Kate]

16 Months. Seriously? Recall the judge.

[Jimbo-bob]

Yeah Kate, not nearly enough time.

[cantseefromhere]

Ortrie Smith? Aren't we rid of him yet?

[dagibbie]

16 months?????? That is all????? Any kind of animal fighting should be at least 5 years or more. As for animals in other countries being food, yes they are, however, the are raised for just that purpose just like we raise cattle and pigs.

[146]

Sly, don't compare PETA with the rest of us that believe this kind of stuff is plain wrong. Just because we like/love dogs or animals, doesn't mean we want anything to do with PETA. So you have no right to throw their name in this. Your agrument doesn't stand.

[billly]

cris bottcher apparently owns the property where over 400 dogs were involved. bottcher (the one with the gun shooting the dogs) is/was also working as a registered nurse.
how would you like this disturbed piece of scum taking care of your loved one ? Is the Missouri State Board of Nursing listening?
His sentencing is April 2. He needs is RN license revoked immediately. Prison is an easy break for these worthless, ignorant, deranged idiots.

[Lucy]

Some of the comments on here make me sick. It is too bad that all you have heard about Rick are his part in dogfighting. Did you read that he was not the one who shot the dog? Also, were you aware that for many, many years he was a special education teacher and worked with both physically and mentally handicapped students. It takes a very special person to do that. So shut the hell up.

[billly]

rick hihath has a 30 year history of making cash off of the neglect, abuse, injuring, torturing and killing what we in this country consider to be our companion animals.
no we do not think of him as "special"
and I am thrilled he hopefully will not ever be "teaching" children again

[billly]

I would find it hard to believe that the children under hihath's care were not abused by him as well