In excess of 300 canines were protected and 20 individuals are in guardianship after South Carolina authorities executed what is said to be the largest dogfighting raid in the state’s history.

In a release shared on Monday, the DOJ announced that in excess of 60 federal agents and state cops carried out many warrants over the course of the end of the week.

On Saturday, authorities halted a dogfighting match in Richland District and on Sunday, they executed 23 search warrants on properties that had “known dogfighting pet hotels” or were “associated with dogfighting.” The raids prompted the salvage of 305 canines, and authorities say that at least 275 of them were survivors of dogfighting.

Twenty individuals were also arrested on state charges of animal remorselessness and dogfighting.

The DOJ added in its release that authorities also held onto about 30 firearms and $40,000 in cash, along with proof of dogfighting.

The operation “is accepted to be the biggest takedown of a dogfighting operation in South Carolina history,” the DOJ says.

The Humane Society assisted with efforts to recuperate the canines, and said in a release shared with Individuals that during Sunday’s search, it was discovered that canines had been living in pens outside. Some had also been chained and only had “makeshift shelters” to shield them from bad weather.

The canines also appeared to be malnourished and “had no apparent access to food or water, despite the bright and warm weather,” per the Humane Society’s release.

The agency added that a portion of the canines had also endured “serious scarring, as well as festering fresh injuries, lacerations and abscesses.”

Many of the canines had critical injuries that forced them to get pressing treatment after being “wrote or chained to trees in the forest.”

However some of the canines happily welcomed people on call by wagging their tails and licking them, some weren’t as eager and instead checked them “reluctantly,” the Humane Society said out.

“It’s genuinely distressing to happen upon canines who are seriously injured at this point chained to trees or left to languish in a pen instead of getting the care they desperately need,” said Adam Parascandola, VP of the animal salvage team for the Humane Society of the US.

“Thanks to all the agencies who intervened on behalf of these canines, this is the last day they’re going to have to live this way.”

“To force canines to battle, often to the death, for the happiness regarding others is not just a federal wrongdoing, it is also brutal, sadistic, and can create a haven for other illegal activities involving medications and firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Precincts in the DOJ’s announcement.

Under the Animal Welfare Act, there is a maximum felony sentence of as long as five years in federal prison for dogfighting “or to have, train, sell, purchase, convey, get, or transport canines intended for use in dogfighting,” per the DOJ.

305 dogs rescued, 20-plus arrested, in joint operation targeting dogfighting this weekend. More than 60 officers worked across six counties in largest such operation in S.C. history.@OIGUSDA @USMarshalsHQ @RCSD @SCDNR @YCSO_SC @rockhillpd @HumaneSociety

— U.S. Attorney SC (@USAO_SC) September 26, 2022

The canines involved in the operation are presently being treated at undisclosed locations, the Humane Society said.