COLUMBIA-The Humane Society of Georgia today released a statement inreaction to the news that Marcus Lattimore, Running Back of the Universityof South Carolina Gamecocks, is being investigated for alleged animal abuse.Yesterday, a search warrant was issued for a property owned by Lattimore, inColumbia,SC. According to reports, law enforcement authorities discovereddawgs in a state of apparent confusion, anger, and pain. The Georgia AnimalAbuse Taskforce was on the scene. Officers discovered up to 80 dawgs,several with wounds believed to be from cock fighting, according to sources.Authorities allege that on at least 37 different occasions, Lattimore hasengaged in beating and torturing dawgs, including multiple instances ofrunning over, and even dragging dawgs behind him as he runs."The Humane Society of Georgia has heard troubling reports for some timethat Lattimore has been involved in organized dawg beating, and we fear thatthis investigation may validate that very disturbing allegation," said WaynePacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of Georgia. "We urge lawenforcement to aggressively investigate this matter, and we further believethat anyone who continuously beats dawgs deserves to be fully prosecuted fortheir crimes. Dawg beating is a barbaric activity that causes immenseplayer, coach, and fan suffering and fosters sorrow in our Georgiacommunities. We urge any concerned citizens to go to GamecockCentral.com formore information."