According to the Humane Society, nearly 40,000 people in the United States have purchased dogs for the sole reason of using them in dogfighting rings. It’s a staggering number and its a particularly troubling one for dog-lovers; the very idea of these loyal lovebugs being forced to live in torturous conditions before fighting to the death is incredibly disturbing. But, what most people don’t know about dogfighting is that the illegal sport also involves other animals.

Believe it or not, dogfighters sometimes throw kittens into dogfighting rings as yet another financial incentive. The way that this sick game goes is that multiple kittens are added to the ring and onlookers bet on which one gets killed first. (Sorry, kitten-lovers but this is important info to know!) In order to differentiate the kittens in the ring, the facilitators of the disgusting event add colored dye to the paws of the cats so that they can be better identified while in the ring.

Unfortunately, this is not an unusual occurrence in the dark world of dogfighting; actually, it’s so prevalent that animal rights activists are dedicating their time and resources to educating the public about the issue.

In a Facebook post that has since gone viral, Megan Sorbara, founder of Naples Cat Alliance, shines a light on the problem. She shared the picture at the top of the article, the adorable black and white feline with the purple paws, along with a paragraph that gives us some background on this particular cat:

By all accounts he looks good, good weight, nice coat but the purple paws tell the story. Dog fighters use markers to color the white parts of cats and kittens so they can bet on which color will die first. They are “color-coded” and then thrown to packs of dogs, while these sick barbarians place their bets. This is cruelty at its worst. It seems as Mr. Purple Paws was able to escape before he entered the ring.

Yep, the poor kitty, the one that the good folks at Naples Cat Alliance named “Mr. Purple Paws,” was probably going to be used as part of a sick dogfight betting match. Lucky for the cat, though, the organization was able to save him from that terrible fate and were even able to find the little guy a loving home.

It’s a sad story, but it’s also one that can serve as an important reminder–animals need us and it’s our civic duty to be aware of their health and safety. The organization wants folks to be aware of this issue so that more and more animals can be saved from their abuse–all that it takes is just some awareness!

So, if you see a cat with dyed paws, be sure to bring it to your nearest shelter or report the case to your local animal control officer. Do your part in keeping these kitties safe!

What are your thoughts on this story? Have you ever come across a cat with colored paws? Do you volunteer your time to stop dogfighting rings in your community?