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All information available through C.D.T is public information All persons are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. For more detailed information of cases please visit www.pet-abuse.com                               FLOYD BOUDREAUX   LAFAYETTE, LA (KATC) - T he district attorney's office in Lafayette has filed charges against a father and son arrested nearly a year ago in a dog-fighting raid. Internationally known pit-pull breeder Floyd Boudreaux and his son guy are charged with 48 counts of dog-fighting and possession of steroids. Investigators say the dogs were injected with the drugs to make them stronger. 59 Pit Bulls were confiscated in a raid of the Boudreaux home in Youngsville last March of 2005. 57 of the dogs were put to sleep. UPDATE: Jan 20, 2006, 07:00 AM EST LAFAYETTE, LA (KATC) - The district attorney's office in Lafayette has filed charges against a father and son arrested nearly a year ago in a dog-fighting raid. FULL STORY: Internationally known pit-pull breeder Floyd Boudreaux and his son guy are charged with 48 counts of dog-fighting and possession of steroids. Investigators say the dogs were injected with the drugs to make them stronger. 59 Pit Bulls were confiscated in a raid of the Boudreaux home in Youngsville last March of 2005. 57 of the dogs were put to sleep. LAFAYETTE -- It was one of the biggest police raids in the history of Lafayette Parish, maybe in all of Acadiana. The caravan of vehicles creeping down Louisiana 89 on March 11 included a SWAT team, the State Police gambling unit and members of local Troop I, U.S. Customs officials, the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Humane Society dog handlers from as far away as Florida and Montana, and at the front, a large refrigerated truck filled with dog cages and driven by Kathryn Destreza. Destreza, the SPCA's director of animal services, calmly went over the game plan in her head, but as they closed in on the kennel operated by Floyd Boudreaux and his son, Guy, her adrenaline spiked. Not because of the raid -- she'd been on plenty of big raids -- but at the thought of seeing, in the flesh, a pit bull terrier from the world-renowned Boudreaux bloodline. In dogfighting, a sport that spans the globe, the pedigree is revered for producing the world's most vicious fighting dogs. Long-dead legends include Blind Billy, Maverick and Napoleon. And among the living, Reno, the "grand champion" fighter and aging stud, was among the dogs Destreza expected to confront face-to-muzzle. "Just the thought of seeing a Boudreaux-bred dog on Boudreaux property was starting to blow me away," Destreza said. "Floyd is sort of like the Adam in the dogfighting world. He's the standard everybody else judges their dogs by." Just outside the Lafayette city limits, where the highway meets La Neuville Road, the line of trucks and police cruisers pulled up to the Boudreaux property in Broussard about 8 a.m. Beyond the family's fleet of rusted cars and pickups was the weather-beaten wood-frame house where Floyd Boudreaux lives with his wife, and behind that the double-wide trailer where Guy Boudreaux lives with his 10-year-old son. Old tires, rusted pipes, piles of lumber and rolls of chain-link fence surrounded a tar-paper workshop and rickety rooster shack. But in the field behind the main compound was a sight that filled Destreza with awe and disgust: 27 pit bulls tethered beside small doghouses, many of the dogs wallowing in muddy pools of standing rainwater. Each doghouse was surrounded by a neat circular rut, the deep grooves marking the boundaries of the dogs' world as the animals strained their 6-foot chains. Reno was spotted right away by Destreza and her staff. Surprisingly, he appeared to get no special treatment, just one dog chained among rows of other dogs. Another 30 pit bulls, including puppies, were scattered in pens and doghouses. Despite their primitive living conditions, the dogs -- all bred from the prized Boudreaux bloodline -- were hearty, healthy and, together, valued at more than $300,000, SPCA Director Laura Maloney said. Reno alone was worth at least $25,000, Maloney said. The dogs, along with items ranging from anabolic steroids to exercise treadmills to computer records and videos, were evidence enough to book Floyd Boudreaux, 70, and Guy Boudreaux, 40, with animal cruelty, illegal possession of steroids, possession of a sawed-off shotgun and 64 counts of dogfighting. Within the secretive and tightknit community of dogfighters, the raid has become the most talked-about event in years. But to State Police, the Boudreaux bust represents just one blow in a very recent, very active crackdown. A month after the Lafayette raid, the State Police's Troop I and gambling division stormed an organized fight in Sunset, where they arrested 17 adults and two juveniles and found two severely mauled pit bulls "locked up" on each other in the middle of a bloody pit. And in back-to-back raids last week, the State Police and SPCA took out an alleged Church Point dogfighter and his kennel of 43 pit bulls Wednesday, before storming a Franklinton compound known as Dirty South Kennels on Thursday, arresting owner Darren Williams and seizing 134 pit bulls. The value of one of the dogs, an alleged grand champion named Coachise, was pegged by the SPCA at $60,000. In a guard room next to Williams' main kennel, police found pictures of other "champion" pit bulls, animal medicines, leashes, belts, a refrigerator full of Budweiser beer and, lying in the middle of a bed, a framed photograph of Williams and Floyd Boudreaux. Deep in the culture Louisiana has long been one of the country's most fertile arenas for dogfighting, mainly because the activity flourished virtually unchecked for decades, authorities said. Before it was made illegal in 1982, dogfighting was a fixture of Cajun country alongside cock-fighting, the controversial blood sport that that has been outlawed in every state except Louisiana and New Mexico. Floyd Boudreaux grew up in an era when pit bull fights were a Saturday draw at rural nightclubs and bush tracks that also offered family fare such as barbecues, fais-do-dos, sulky racing and drag racing. Cockfighting, with its spectacle of death, was like a sideshow at these throw-downs, held in a barn or closed pit away from those with no stomach for it. Dog matches, far bloodier and more protracted than the rooster fights, were staged even deeper in the shadows. Several Lafayette old-timers said the fights were public knowledge but largely unadvertised, held at whispered locations "in the woods" or "down the road," and usually late at night. "Been around since I was a baby," said Virginia Lee, director of Lafayette Animal Control. "Just like cockfighting, it's become part of the culture. They always kept it away from the kids because it was so bloody, but somehow it became accepted around here." Floyd Boudreaux, in a coffee table book of photographs by Marc Joseph called "American Pitbull," described growing up as the son of a dogman: "I've been working with the breed over half a century. I also have chickens. My dad had them before I did, and then I had them before I went to grade school. My son, too. It's always been a family affair." In the weeks after the raid, some folks were heard to wonder why police were hassling a kindly old dog-lover and his family, while others questioned why authorities took so long to eliminate a kennel for killer dogs that operated in plain sight for decades. "He should have been arrested a long time ago. Everybody knew about him," said Randy Hebert, who lives near the Boudreaux compound. "I don't know how he was able to operate so wide-open for so long." But Conrad Miller, a pit-bull owner and friend of the Boudreaux family, said the family dog operation is misunderstood. "All pits are fighting dogs. That's what they do," he said. "Even though Floyd goes back to the fighting days, I don't think he's fought his dogs for years. He always told me, 'That's a thing of the past.' " Miller acknowledged that Boudreaux is still considered royalty among dogfighters, but he said that reputation is based on Boudreaux's long-ago triumphs in the pit. "When he goes to (dog) shows," he said, "everybody wants his autograph or they want to take his picture. He's a hero in that crowd. But he's really just a sweet little old man." For Floyd and Guy Boudreaux, even harder to take than the raid and criminal charges, Miller and others said, was the euthanasia of 57 prized pit bulls. The destruction of the animals all but eliminated the family's two most sought-after bloodlines, the generations-old "Boudreaux" line and the more recent branch of fighters known as "Eli." According to authorities, dogmen from as far away as Mexico and Japan came to the Boudreaux kennel to purchase a puppy born from that storied stock, sometimes paying as much as $10,000 for the pick of a litter. "People came from all over the world to buy his dogs," said Jeff Dorson of the Humane Society of New Orleans and one of the state's most vocal dogfighting opponents. "Sometimes they came just to pay homage, get his autograph, have their picture taken with him. He is the top of the pyramid as far as notoriety in dogfighting circles." Maloney said the animals were put to sleep at the New Orleans shelter a few days after the raid. She said the dogs were contraband under the law and that there was no safe way to house that many dogs bred and trained to kill. The euthanasia operation took nearly 48 hours and brought most of the staff to tears. "I have a pit bull myself. It's my favorite breed," Maloney said. "But there was no way to rehabilitate a dog that has been so selectively bred for aggression toward other animals. If they were ever to get around another animal, they'd turn in a millisecond. It was shocking to us how vicious they'd become when they saw another animal." The Boudreaux case was so sensitive that none of the local police agencies or animal shelters in the Lafayette area was told about the impending raid. But it didn't take long for word to get around after it went down. Lee, the local animal control director, said her shelter got a flood of calls from local pit bull owners devastated by the news. The raid also led to a rash of abandoned pit bulls in the area, dogs presumably cut loose by dogfighters who didn't want to risk getting caught. Illegal activity denied Floyd and Guy Boudreaux, through their attorneys, deny breeding or training their pit bulls for fighting, activities that are illegal under the state's dogfighting statute. Daniel Stanford, who represented Guy Boudreaux at the time of the raid, said, "These dogs were used for hunting, shows, competitive weight pulling and as pets." The steroids, the attorneys said, were used for the dozens of roosters the family raised for cockfighting. Neither Boudreaux has offered public comment since the bust. In response to a recent interview request from The Times-Picayune, Guy Boudreaux referred all legal questions to attorney Jason Robideaux, who did not respond to several telephone calls. Boudreaux, however, did offer a parting comment during a visit from a reporter: "My dad hasn't fought dogs in 30 years. And he gave away more dogs than he ever sold. Look how we live. Where's all the money?" Boudreaux said he and his father are eager to tell their side of the story but have been instructed by attorneys to save it for court. The father and son face a maximum of 10 years in prison for each felony dogfighting count. But to Louisiana State Police and animal control officers, the raid's greater significance is that it marked the biggest blow to dogfighting in Louisiana since the state banned it in 1982 and has rattled dogfighting circles around the world. Within days of the Lafayette raid, Internet sites affiliated with animal-rescue groups were flooded with messages describing the elder Boudreaux as dogfighting's "don," "godfather" and "kingpin." Pro-pit-bull sites -- posted by groups that operate with a high degree of anonymity, secrecy and perfunctory disclaimers against fighting -- cast him in heroic terms. One Web site, launched as the "Help Floyd Foundation," solicited money for a legal defense fund, referring to Boudreaux as a "famous and honored long-term breeder." People pledged donations from as far away as England and the Czech Republic. The SPCA received a flood of hostile phone messages and hate mail, including a "Fire Laura Maloney" e-mail petition signed by more than 600 people and an unnerving photo with Maloney's name printed on a headstone. Detective David Hunt of Franklin County, Ohio, and one of the country's premier dogfighting enforcers, said he started hearing about the Boudreaux raid from informants hours before the story hit the news. "The fact that his arrest spread so quickly through underground channels shows just how big he was," Hunt said. "It's a huge, huge arrest that will affect dogfighting nationally for some time." State Trooper Willie Williams Jr. is with Troop I in Lafayette. He was among the local troopers who were ordered to arrive early on the morning of the raid without any other hint of the operation. Only after the raid, while surfing the Internet, did Williams appreciate the shock waves made by the bust, he said. "This isn't just a state case or a national case; it's international," Williams said. "Mr. Boudreaux is a celebrity in that world. He was the man, the king. . . . Hopefully, this is going to send a message to other people who are involved: 'If the king can be removed, maybe that should be a clue.' The best thing we can have is voluntary compliance." Heightened enforcement Even as dogfighting emerged as a big-money gambling outlet throughout the 1990s, enforcement remained a low priority. Good intelligence was notoriously difficult to develop in the shadowy dogfighting world, police say, and the state dogfighting statute made prosecution difficult unless police disrupted a fight in progress, an extremely rare occurrence. But in 2001, animal-rights activists successfully lobbied to change the law, making it a felony to breed, train or own a dog for fighting purpose. Police could now make cases by seizing evidence such as exercise treadmills, heavy chains, steroids, fighting manuals, and underground magazines, videos and, in some cases, computer files. The change has been exploited beyond Lafayette, including in New Orleans. "I would say that over the last three years, by working with the SPCA and Jeff Dorson, dogfighting has become a top concern for the Police Department," New Orleans police spokesman Capt. Marlon Defillo said. One of the most convincing arguments presented by the animal-rights community, Defillo said, was the "correlation between dogfighting and other crimes such as narcotics, gambling and crimes of violence. Individuals who wage big bets on dogfighting often find themselves in other illegal activities and violent situations." For example, in Wednesday's bust, alleged Church Point dogfighter Pedro Mendez Ramos was booked along with 14 others in connection with a multi-state cocaine and marijuana trafficking ring. Dogfighting in New Orleans Also emerging on law enforcement radar is an exploding, and lucrative, dogfighting scene in and around New Orleans, where $50,000, hours-long death matches have become a hard-edged undercurrent of hip-hop culture, often entangled with drugs and guns, according to animal-rights activists. As a dogfighting opponent Dorson didn't limit himself to nudging the police into action. For two years, he went undercover, posing as a dog-food distributor, to infiltrate the notoriously clandestine clique of dogfighters. By giving away truckloads of kibble, Dorson soon had breeders and trainers paging him around the clock and giving him a wide-open window into their world. In addition to providing names and locations, Dorson got the attention of New Orleans police with photographs documenting the pastime's brutality. "Looking at the photographs of dogs that have been killed or maimed in vicious dogfights has drawn a lot of sympathy from our officers," Defillo said. A few local cases have revealed what local police are up against. In February 2003, New Orleans police got a tip and raided a fight scene on a dirt road in eastern New Orleans. Spectators scattered in all directions, leaving behind dog cages, cell phones, $6,000 in cash and a bloody dogfighting ring. Police booked 16 people as spectators, a misdemeanor, but the district attorney's office decided not to pursue charges, citing weak evidence. One of the people arrested during that raid, Cleveland Harris Jr., was booked again Feb. 28 on 12 counts of dogfighting and animal cruelty for allegedly maintaining a kennel of "game" pit bulls at his home. He is awaiting trial. In another New Orleans case, Rudolph Bolds, 58, and his son Rudolph Bolds Jr., 34, were charged with dogfighting and cruelty to animals for allegedly maintaining a kennel of pit bulls bearing scars from fighting. At a May 16 trial, a jury acquitted the elder Bolds but could not arrive at a verdict on his son, forcing prosecutors to decide whether to hold a second trial. Amid the disappointment, police and animal workers did not fail to note that the attorneys representing the Bolds, Robert Glass and Ron Rakosky, are among the highest-paid criminal defense lawyers in the state. Starting at the top For years, Dorson had compiled evidence on the Boudreaux operation in a file labeled "Operation Dog Bite." He finally got the State Police interested this year when he made a direct appeal to their chief, Col. Henry Whitehorn. Meanwhile, the SPCA, operating independently, had been gathering tips from within the pit bull breeding and training community. The agency compiled information about the major players, the big money fights, the puppy sales from the most coveted litters of game pit bulls. State Police Capt. Joseph Lentini, commander of casino gambling, credited Maloney and the SPCA with getting his troopers up to speed on dogfighting in a hurry. Eventually, the background from the animal groups and fresh information developed independently by State Police investigators all came together in a red-hot tip on how to nail the biggest name in the business: Floyd Boudreaux. Lentini would reveal only that the most crucial piece of information in the Boudreaux case came from New Orleans. "When I got the call from an agent, it was very exciting. We knew we had something big there," Lentini said. Since the arrest of Floyd and Guy Boudreaux, Lentini said, the State Police have been flooded with tips and information: Information about other large kennels selling fighting dogs. Information about fights with purses approaching $80,000. Dog-theft rings that steal family pets to be used as "bait" in the training of pit-bull fighters. "We're steadily getting new information coming in, and we're still working a lot of active cases," Lentini said. "My people are really becoming experts in this. We're starting to feel pretty confident." As Lentini's troopers dig deeper into the world of dogfighting, the enormity of the case against Floyd Boudreaux and his son is becoming clear. In many ways, the agency took the opposite path of most major police investigations, which generally start at the bottom and work their way up the ladder as minor players decide to cooperate. In the Boudreaux case, the State Police started at the top. But, like dogfighters who shuddered at the news, the local SPCA and other animal groups immediately knew the history-making dimensions of the Boudreaux bust. Destreza, a tough and seasoned animal handler who wears a uniform and carries a badge, said she cried more than once during the long two days in which the Boudreaux dogs were photographed and charted for scars and calluses before being led, one by one, to Room 9-5, the SPCA's euthanasia room. Despite their rippling muscles, many of the dogs were calm but scared, and even friendly -- just like most breeds, Destreza said. The dog handlers gave many of them pet names, even as they prepared them for death. "Seeing those big dopey looks from those big brown eyes," Destreza said, "I cried, yes, but I made sure not to cry in front of my staff. You can't help but bond with the animals. Even as we were loading them onto the truck, you couldn't help but think about what was eventually going to happen to them. Trying to breed another line like Boudreaux would be like trying to re-create Elvis. You can make some gold records, but there's only one Elvis."   Timeline of the FLOYD BOUDREAUX case      Kentucky Man Arrested training dogs to fight                                                                       NBA Player Qyntel Woods Dog Fighting Update Trial Date Set For Man Accused Of Running Dogfighting Ring: A Bullitt County man accused of running a dog-fighting ring in his front yard will go on trial in September. A judge set the date in court Monday morning and ordered Timothy Day to be held on $2,000 bond, WLKY NewsChannel 32 reported. Investigators said Day bred the dogs to fight and found evidence of violent dog fights and a treadmill used to train the animals. Eight of the dogs are at the Bullitt County Animal Shelter. Another is recovering at a Mount Washington animal clinic, WLKY reported.Please follow WLKY NewsChannel 32 and WLKY.com for updates to this story as they become available. SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky.) -- Bullitt County detectives call it one of the most disturbing cases they've ever seen. Twenty-seven-year-old Timothy Day faces charges of animal cruelty for allegedly training pit bulls for fights. Acting on tips from animal rights groups, detectives began staking out Day's home last summer. Last Friday night, they got their break. WAVE 3's Frances Kuo investigates. Officers said they found one dog that had been so severely injured it couldn't even move on its own. "We noticed in plain view a dog laying in the yard, covered in blood, laying next to a bowl that had bloody water in it," said Detective Robert Collins of the Bullitt County Sheriff's Department. Detectives didn't find just one dog, but eight others -- a total of five adults and four puppies. A makeshift treadmill and small-sized arena clued them in to an apparent dogfighting operation. "I've never seen anything like this, not at all. It's rather sickening," Collins said. He added: "A good punishment, to me -- put him in that arena with the dogs, let the dogs take care of their own." One dog was returned to its original owners; seven other are at the Bullitt County Animal Shelter. A ninth dog, a one-year-old puppy, was the most severely injured. She has bite wounds all over her body, leaving her with a limp. Alerted by authorities, veterinarian Chris Albert took the puppy in. "I call her Phoenix," Albert said, "because she's rising from the ashes." Phoenix is now getting a second chance at life after a difficult first. "She's been very cowering -- just 'please beat me,' when you come in the room," Albert said. "I can't understand how anybody could get pleasure out of seeing a dog like this shredded," Albert said. Detectives also found dog remains on Day's property. He is charged with two counts of animal cruelty, but was released on a $10,000 cash bond. His next court appearance was set for February 7. If you have any information about any possible animal abuse cases, you're encouraged to call the Bullitt County Sheriff's Office at (502) 955-7804. Online Reporter: Frances Kuo UPDATE: January 8/2006 SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky. A Bullitt County man is facing charges he ran a dog fighting operation where he bred and trained pit bulls. Police have charged Timothy Daly with two felony counts of animal cruelty after his arrest on January 28th. Nine dogs were taken to the county animal shelter after the raid at Daly's home in Brooks. Police say he forced the dogs to run on a treadmill and forced them to fight. Daly said after a court appearance yesterday that he has never held dog fights on his property. A grand jury will decide if the case should go to trial. The national animal-rights group PETA first made the allegations that dogs were fighting on Daly's property. UPDATE 2/9/06 Bullitt man charged with animal cruelty He allegedly bred, used dogs for fighting By Brian Moore bmoore@courier-journal.com The Courier-Journal Bullitt County sheriff's deputies say Timothy Day built a ring for dog fighting in a trailer behind his home in Brooks. They also say he bred pit bulls, forced them to run on a treadmill and made them fight other dogs. When they arrested him at home on Jan. 28, the dog warden took nine dogs to the county animal shelter. One was injured so badly that it couldn't walk and had to spend several days with a veterinarian for around-the-clock care. Day, 27, appeared in Bullitt District Court yesterday for a probable-cause hearing on two felony counts of cruelty to animals. His attorney, Richard Decker, questioned the deputies' evidence, but Judge Bailey Taylor ruled that the case should go to the grand jury. After the hearing, Day said he has never held dog fights on his Roe Hill Road property and that he hasn't caused his own dogs to fight. The treadmill, Decker told the judge, was used to build muscle tone in the pit bulls, which he said were show dogs. Deputies scoffed at the idea that the dogs were used for show. When they arrived at Day's property around 11 p.m. on Jan. 27, they said, they found dogs that were bleeding from cuts that a veterinarian said were bite wounds. They found a bowl filled with bloody water, and old and fresh blood was splattered in various places around the trailer, said Detective Bob Collins, who has been investigating reports of dog fighting for several months. The accusation of dog fights on Day's property first came from the national group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Collins said someone had sent PETA an anonymous letter about the fights, which PETA forwarded to the sheriff's office. "I own a pit bull, which is my family pet, and I think it's terrible," Chief Deputy Jim "Mac" McAuliffe said of forcing dogs to fight. "It just shocks me that anybody could do this to an animal." In response to Decker's questions, Collins said that neither he nor the deputies found betting slips or any record that betting had occurred on the property. No dogs were fighting when deputies arrived, Collins said. Decker asked whether investigators took any blood samples from the drinking bowl or the trailer that would prove that the substances purported to be blood actually were. Deputy Brent Hall said no blood samples were taken. Decker also pressed Collins on his contention that the treadmill was used for training, saying, "You don't have any idea what the treadmill was used for, do you?" Collins responded, "No." Hall said Day told him that he has fought dogs in West Point, Ky., which is in Hardin County, but never on his property, and that others have fought dogs in his trailer but that he never participated. Day denied making those statements. Meanwhile, seven of the pit bulls are being held at the Bullitt County Animal Shelter pending the outcome of Day's case, dog warden Jerry Flener said. Flener said the dogs are good-natured and will be eligible for adoption. Another pit bull taken from Day's property belonged to a neighbor and was returned, Collins said. The ninth pit bull was taken in temporarily by Mount Washington veterinarian Chris Albert, who treated it with intravenous antibiotics and pain medicine. Albert said the dog, probably a year old, couldn't walk for two days, didn't eat for four days and had tendon damage on a leg that had 20 to 30 bite wounds. She said Monday that the dog is doing better and that she plans to see that it is adopted. Reporter Brian Moore can be reached at (502) 582-4608.          Posted on Feb 3, 2006 - 9:39AM The Trail Blazers and Qyntel Woods have reached a settlement on the former player's suspension for animal abuse that will avoid arbitration. Woods, 24, was suspended by the NBA club without pay in October 2004 for having his pit bull engage in dog fighting. Woods, now the New York Knicks’ starting small forward, sought to have the money returned to him. But as part of the settlement, the Blazers will retain a substantial amount — more than $500,000 — of the $750,000 that was withheld from Woods’ salary for the 2004-05 season. Woods pleaded guilty to animal abuse in Clackamas County Circuit Court and was sentenced to 12 months of probation and 80 hours of community service. The Memphis native, who played two seasons for Portland before being waived in January 2005, also pledged $10,000 to the Oregon Humane Society. “We’re glad to put this chapter behind us,” Blazer President Steve Patterson says. “Qyntel has paid a significant price for the damage he did to the ballclub and the community.” Posted on Oct 13, 2005 - 8:40AM Woods has completed his court ordered community service. Back in January, a judge ordered Woods to pay the Oregon Humane Society $10,000, in addition to completing 80 hours of community service, which it appears he did with the Red Cross in Miami. A Red Cross spokesperson told KATU News that Woods worked to clean out a warehouse used by emergency services. Woods has worn three jerseys in less than a year - first in Portland, then Miami and finally Boston, which cut him last week. Posted on Sep 29, 2005 - 11:30PM The caretaker of an already-mistreated pit bull owned by former Portland Trail Blazer Qyntel Woods has pleaded guilty to animal abuse and was sentenced to 80 hours of community service. Robert Page, 26, who now lives in Arizona, submitted his plea by mail. He was listed in a 2004 dog control record as the caretaker of the dog, which was found last October in an alley with cuts, bruises and scars. Authorities found bloody pawprints and blood smears when they searched Woods' Lake Oswego home that month and suspected dogfighting but neither Page nor Woods was charged with that. Woods pleaded guilty in January to animal abuse and sentenced to a year of probation and 80 hours of community service. The Blazers quickly dismissed the 6-foot-8 guard, who now plays for the Miami Heat. The dog lives with a new owner in Bend. Posted on Jan 22, 2005 - 1:35PM The Portland Trail Blazers waived forward Qyntel Woods on Friday, the same day the player pleaded guilty to abusing his pit bull. Woods, 23, appeared in court to enter the misdemeanor plea, part of an agreement following an investigation into allegations of dog fighting. He was sentenced to 12 months probation and 80 hours of community service. "In light of today's developments, it is clear that the Trail Blazers and Qyntel Woods must part ways," Trail Blazers president Steve Patterson said in a statement. "We are confident that this action is both justified and appropriate." Woods' attorney Stephen Houze made a brief statement in court that acknowledged the player had not taken proper care of his pit bull, but did not mention dog fighting. "I've tried to be a responsible pet owner all my life. Because of that, I am very sorry and saddened that my dog, Hollywood, was injured," Woods said in the statement read by his attorney. "I also deeply regret the concern this has caused other pet owners and citizens in our community." Woods had faced a more serious charge of dog fighting, a felony in Oregon. Promoting or conducting dog fighting is punishable by up to $100,000 in fines and up to five years in jail. The Trail Blazers suspended Woods indefinitely without pay on Oct. 12. He was in the final year of a three-year contract that would have paid him $1.1 million. Source: Associated Press - Jan 21, 2005 Posted on Oct 28, 2004 - 7:36PM KATU News has learned that both Woods and a fellow teammate are accused of intimidating a potential witness in the dog abuse case. Woods has not been charged with any crime involving the allegations and is only under investigation at this point. Org Story : 2004 BELOW Portland, Ore. - While Qyntel Woods finds himself facing possible animal abuse and neglect charges involving a dog found in northeast Portland, new information about the Trail Blazer player and his involvement with Pit Bulls has surfaced. Lake Oswego, Ore. - Clackamas County Sheriff's deputies, along with Oregon Humane Society officials, descended on the home of Trail Blazer Forward Qyntel Woods Monday morning. Officials executed their warrant while Woods was practicing at the Blazers practice facility in Tualatin at 11:30 a.m. Shortly after investigators entered Woods' residence, they removed evidence and dug up disturbed areas of the back yard looking for dog remains, investigators said. "We are finding things that will warrant further investigation," said Oregon Humane Society Lt. Randy Covey. That investigation could lead to a number of possible charges involving three different alleged actions on Qyntel Woods' part. First, he could end up facing animal abuse and neglect charges involving a wounded Pit Bull that Multnomah County Animal Control alleges was abandoned in northeast Portland. The female dog, named Hollywood, was found with fresh puncture wounds, scars and bruises on her chest, belly and legs. On October 4 when KATU News asked Woods about Hollywood, he said he has never fought Pit Bulls and that, "I was going to breed it with my other dog, but they didn't take, so I just decided to get rid of it." Second, Woods could face federal charges if he is found to have purchased Pit Bulls for the purpose of using them in fights. A man, who wishes to remain anonymous, spoke to KATU News last week about the time he met Qyntel Woods at Portland International Airport. He said the two met each other at the Delta Air Cargo parking lot about seven or eight months ago when Woods was picking up a Pit Bull that had just been flown in from Florida. While picking up a dog from the airport is certainly not strange, what the man says he remembers most about the meeting is what Woods said. "I asked him, 'do you breed them?' He said 'no, I fight them,'" he told KATU News. "I wasn't really surprised, but I couldn't believe someone would brag about it, you know, the audacity to brag." Third, if evidence is found at Woods' home that shows he used his property for organized fights, then he could face a Class C Felony charge involving dog fighting that carries a maximum penalty of five years in jail and $120,000 in fines. "You wouldn't actually need to have dogs (on the residence), you just need to be able to prove that a dog fight occurred on a residence," said Covey. The problems for Woods began when KATU News reported that a Pit Bull named Hollywood had been found in northeast Portland with fresh wounds. "Quite frankly, the reporting of Channel 2 is what brought that information forward," said Clackamas County Sheriff's Detective Jim Strovink. When asked about the dog, Woods told KATU News he had given the Pit Bull away. "I know this guy and I took my dog over there," he said. "And he saw my dog and he wanted it. So I gave it to him." Woods has since denied that the dog is his, although records with Clackamas County show he is the owner of a gold colored Pit Bull, which he has had since early this year. Multnomah County Animal Control is now investigating possible animal neglect and abuse charges involving Hollywood. Last week, they examined the Pit Bull to try to determine if the dog had been a victim of abuse, but did not release the results due to their ongoing investigation. The animal rescuer who has been caring for Hollywood says she believes the dog was abused, namely by being used as a fighter. "There's old scars and new scars on top of old scars and then fresh wounds, which indicates to me that the dog has repeatedly been in fights," said Gabby Cholak with K-9 Rescue. Officials at Multnomah County Animal Control say that it is a challenge to prove that dog bites are the result of organized fights rather than normal encounters between animals. "Bite wounds are bite wounds," said John Rowton with Multnomah County Animal Control. "There is no note attached that says this dog was in a fight or it got hurt in an off-leash park." Additional Charges Involving Drugs? Woods may find himself in trouble for charges unrelated to dog fighting. When investigators arrived at Woods' residence Monday afternoon they said they found "an aroma of marijuana in the home." Even though Woods was not at home when the warrant was served, investigators said they will be looking into drug possession charges Trail Blazer forward Qyntel Woods allegedly abandoned a 2 year old female pit bull on Saturday afternoon. The dog was found with fresh puncture wounds, scars, bruising and worms. She was also covered with hot tar, a cheap antiseptic used by people who fight pit bulls. "I was going to breed it with my other dog, but they didn't take, so I just decided to get rid of it," Woods told KATU News when asked about Hollywood. Woods says he gave the dog to a man in an alley off of Northeast Killingsworth and Martin Luther King Boulevard Saturday afternoon. Woods denies using the dog as a fighter and says he has never pitted pit bulls against each other. According to the KATU report, the dog, named Hollywood, had wounds on its chest, abdomen and legs that were consistent with fighting. Gabby Cholak with K-9 Rescue says Hollywood's wounds are fresh enough that the dog could have been used in a fight fairly recently. "I think she could have been in a fight as late as Friday or Saturday," Cholak said. "The wounds - there was still blood coming off of them a little bit when I picked her up Saturday evening." Clackamas County Animal Control has been notified and as for Hollywood, she is recovering and retraining. "I really hope that ultimately she can be placed for adoption in a good, loving home that she really deserves." Mike Oswald, director of Multnomah County Animal Services, said his agency began an investigation Wednesday and that the investigating officer planned to interview Woods. "We have a couple of leads that should help us figure out what happened," Oswald said. He said the county would impound the dog today and have its injuries assessed by a veterinarian before determining whether charges would be filed. Since coming to Portland, Woods has been charged with drug possession, driving with a suspended license and driving without proof of insurance. Dog fighting is a felony in Oregon. Clackamas County detectives are trying to verify reports that there were dogfights in Linn County, and whether Blazer players were involved. The tipline number is 503-723-4949 and police say tipsters can remain anonymous Pit Bulls Stolen From St Landry Animal Shelter, found Killed.                                            St Landry Allison Pettit charged with Dog Fighting January 30, 2006 Pit Bulls Stolen from St. Landry Animal Shelter Dozens of valuable pit bulls became the targets of thieves. Now, the St. Landry Parish Animal Shelter is doing something about it. Shelter officials say the thefts have prompted them to improve security in and around the facility. Jessie Bellard says three puppies and a full-grown pit bull were stolen. Bellard says unfortunately, fighting pit bulls are a big business, which is why he's not shocked someone went to the trouble of stealing some. Bellard says some of those dogs are worth $2500-$3,000 per dog. He says the shelter had so many pit bulls that people want them and they don't mind crossing the fence or cutting a gate to get in and get them. Investigators believe the suspect or suspects got into the animal shelter by hopping the fence. Since then, workers say they have taken added security precautions, including installing lights all over the facility. Bellard says since then, more lights have been put in the back and in the front so the building is lit up at night. The shelter also invested thousands of dollars in a new state-of-the-art digital recording system and cameras, which is replacing a VHS camera system. Bellard says it wasn't clear and it wasn't good, but now with the new system, officials can actually play back a tape on hard drive for months and it is digital quality. Bellard says even when the staff is not around, someone will be able to view the footage from an off-site computer. Roughly 50 pit bulls believed to be bred and trained to fight were being housed at the animal shelter after being taken away from an Arnaudville woman last December. 62-year-old Allison Pettet was arrested and charged with dog-fighting and cruelty to animals. The dogs were euthanized last week, but not before a handful were stolen. St. Landry Parish chief deputy Laura Balthazar says investigators have no suspects in this crime. She also says when investigators arrived, they found several dead pit bulls, believed to have been killed by the suspect. If you have any information on this crime, call the sheriff's department.                          The woman accused in a dog-fighting ring in St. Landry Parish may be able to spare the dogs' lives, at least for a while. As Eyewitness News reported, 47 pit bulls were taken away from 62-year-old Allison Pettet, who is accused of training them for fighting. Parish officials say Pettet is now being given the chance to pay bond on the dogs, which would extend their lives in the shelter until after her trial is finished. If bond is not paid by next week, the dogs will be euthanized. UPDATE: December 16, 2005 St. Landry Pit Bulls The woman accused in a dog-fighting ring in St. Landry Parish may be able to spare the dogs' lives, at least for a while. As Eyewitness News reported, 47 pit bulls were taken away from 62-year-old Allison Pettet, who is accused of training them for fighting. Parish officials say Pettet is now being given the chance to pay bond on the dogs, which would extend their lives in the shelter until after her trial is finished. If bond is not paid by next week, the dogs will be euthanized Update:January 27/2006 Allison Pettet CHARGED WITH ANIMAL CRUELTY & DOG FIGHTING, ALL DOGS set to be EUTHANIZED. Lancaster Co. SC 2 men Charged with Dog Fighting                                                              Dante Effinger Sentenced to 1 year for dog fighting Lancaster Deputies Charge Two Men With Animal Fighting POSTED: 2:29 pm EST January 11, 2006 UPDATED: 7:00 pm EST January 11, 2006 LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. -- Lancaster County sheriff's deputies investigated a complaint of dog fighting at an abandoned home on Louisa Park Road. Authorities arrested Marc Eugene Moore, 34, and John Matthew Railey, 18, and charged them with animal fighting. Investigators said when officers pulled up, six people bolted out the damaged back door into the woods. Deputies said they were able to capture Moore and Railey. "Our responding deputies could hear dogs fighting inside the abandoned mobile home when they arrived," said Chief Deputy Barry Faile. Deputies said they discovered five pit bulls inside the residence. They said two of the dogs were bleeding and appeared to have recently been fighting. Officials said one other dog was found dead in the woods behind the abandoned home. They said it appeared to have died as a result of dog fighting. Kelly George lives less than 100 yards from the abandoned trailer sheriff's deputies stormed after getting an anonymous tip Wednesday about dog-fighting. "It's sickening. It's actually gut-wrenching -- pretty gruesome stuff," said George. Deputies said the dog fighters broke in to the trailer and have staged several fights inside. Investigators said the mobile home where the fighting occurred is owned by a local reality company and is currently not being rented. According to police, in a room the size of a walk-in closet, blood stains cover the walls from the carpet on up. They said there are scratch marks, and a foul odor lingers in the air. "The dogs found at the residence had no food or water and appeared to be uncared for," said Faile. Lancaster County Animal Control responded to the scene and removed the dogs from the residence. All five dogs, even the puppies, will probably be put to sleep at the county animal shelter. Animal control officials said that once dogs are trained to fight, they're never adopted as pets. George just wishes he would've paid closer attention. "I really didn't know what was going on. If I would have, I'd have turned them in," he said. Both Moore and Railey were charged with a misdemeanor animal fighting, not felony dog fighting, because deputies only saw them run, they didn't see them fighting the dogs. Misdemeanor animal fighting carries a maximum sentence of six months imprisonment. Source :http://www.wsoctv.com/news/6004011/detail.html                                          February 23,2006 Update at Bottom * Michigan man gets year for transporting fighting dogs/Source: www.pontiacdailyleader.com Michigan man gets year for transporting fighting dogs By Sheila Shelton/Staff Reporter A Michigan man was sentenced Wednesday to one year in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the role he played in a dog fighting incident in Livingston County last September. Dante Lamont Effinger, 33, of Warren, Mich., and formerly of Detroit, was sentenced to prison on two felony counts of transporting two dogs to be used in fighting. Effinger had previously plead guilty to the two felony counts and a misdemeanor count of attending a dog fight. Effinger was one of 10 men arrested on Saturday, Sept. 10 and the early morning hours of Sunday, Sept. 11, at the residence of Robert Dewey Chapman II, 32, of rural Gridley. The arrests were made following dog fights, between bull terriers, at the rural Gridley site. Chapman is scheduled for a jury trial in April in Livingston County. Circuit Judge Harold Frobish during the sentencing hearing for Effinger on Wednesday acknowledged the fact that he had received letters from the defendant's mother, wife, children and minister on behalf of sparing Effinger from a prison term. Livingston County Assistant State's Attorney Carey Luckman told Frobish that he would ask that Effinger receive 12 months in the Department of Corrections but would be able to accept 30 months probation and six months in the Livingston County Jail and a $2,000 fine beyond all court fees and assessments. "Mr. Effinger plead guilty to taking part in inhumane behavior - something done with conscious disregard of life. This was done to creatures that cannot protect themselves," said Luckman in his statement to the court. Effinger's Michigan defense attorney told Frobish "I know I have to respect the law even if I don't agree with it in this jurisdiction. Mr. Effinger just gave his cousin a ride - he didn't set up dog fights and he didn't bet on them. I am asking you to give this man probation and you will not see him in this great state of Illinois ever again. In terms of balancing equities - probation is right in this case." "Mr. Effinger you transported two dogs from Chicago to Livingston County. This was not an impulse trip. You knew these dogs would be tortured and perhaps killed. You are apparently active in your community, have a job and family and yet you chose to put all this in jeopardy," said Frobish. "An appropriate sentence is needed in this crime to deter others. I take no pleasure in sentencing you to 12 months in prison. People are what they do and this is what you did," said Frobish. The judge sentences to 12 month concurrent sentences on each of the two felonies, a $2,500 fine plus court costs and entered a conviction on the misdemeanor charge. Effinger's 2000 GMC Yukon, which had been seized by police and held since the September incident, was returned to Effinger's wife following the sentencing. The state had sought to have the sports utility vehicle forfeited as part of the conviction. ORG STORY: Saturday, December 24, 2005 Man pleads guilty in dog fighting case PONTIAC - A Michigan man has pleaded guilty to transporting dogs for fighting in Livingston County. Dante L. Effinger, 33 of Detroit, Mich., entered a blind plea on two counts of transporting two dogs believed to be used in fighting, which is a Class 4 felony. He also pleaded guilty of attending a dog fight, which is a misdemeanor. On Sept. 10 and 11, Cook County authorities followed people believed to be involved in dog fighting to a home at 5905 East 1100 North Road, rural gridley. Officials broke up the dog fighting and made 10 arrests, police said. The property owner, Robert D. Chapman II, 32, of Gridley, also faces several charges in the incident, including allowing people use buildings on his property to fight dogs and destroying evidence. Chapman is set to have a bench trail in February. Effinger was stopped while he was leaving the property. Police searched his sport utility vehicle and found two dogs caged in the back. When police removed a blanket that covered the cages, the dogs tried to fight each other through the cages, which is common among dogs trained to fight, authorities said. One of the dogs looked to be exhausted and had fresh wounds on its face. Effinger, who entered his plea last week, is due back in court in February for sentencing. A blind plea means the person admits guilt without a prearranged sentencing arrangement. At the same hearing, the court will review a request to have his vehicle forfeited. Authorities can seize vehicles used in certain crimes. Of the 10 men arrested, all were from Chicago or Detroit, Mich., except for Chapman. Most were charged with attending a dog fight, which is a misdemeanor. Authorities also seized 14 dogs in the incident. One was returned to Chapman, who said it was a family pet. Gridley man admits to providing facility for dog fight UPDATE* Tuesday, May 23, 2006 2:57PM A Gridley man has admitted to providing a facility for a dog fight and obstructing justice. Livingston County prosecutors say Robert Chapman provided a building near Gridley for the September dog fight, which involved numerous bull-terrier dogs. In February, Dante Effinger of Detroit, Michigan was sentenced to one year in prison and fined over two-thousand dollars for transporting dogs to the fight. Chapman is due back in court next month. He could face one to three years in prison and a 25 thousand dollar fine. Five Pit Bull Removed From House , Possible Dog Fighting                                                  2 Charged in Dog Fighting Case B'Ham Alabama Evidence suggests dog fights were going on; animals at shelter pending criminal case Friday, January 13, 2006 BY TOM TOLEN News Staff Reporter Green Oak Township Police continue to investigate an unusual case in which several distressed pit bull terriers were found in a home that may have been used to stage illegal dog fights. According to Police Chief Bob Brookins, officers executed a search warrant last Friday at the home on Maltby Road, between Rickett and Whitmore Lake roads, and found five pit bulls, along with possible evidence the animals may have been used for dog fighting. "We don't know how many people were involved,'' Brookins said. He said the animals may have been used for fighting, "or it could end up being no more than a case of animal abuse,'' Brookins said. "There have been no arrests yet, and we've had no requests for any charges,'' said Livingston County Prosecutor David Morse. Police found evidence of other animal violations, along with "severe living conditions'' in the home, Brookins said. The dogs were transported by Livingston County Animal Control officers to the county animal shelter. The Livingston County Health Department and the township building and ordinance departments determined the house was uninhabitable, said Diane McCormick, director of environmental health at the County Department of Public Health. "The smell was very bad, there was dog feces, and blood on the walls,'' McCormick said. "We'll work with the owners on what steps will be necessary in order to make the structure fit for occupation,'' she said. County animal control official Anne Burns said due to the pending criminal case, her department will keep the dogs at the shelter until the court decides their ultimate fate. "We can't do anything until the judge decides the outcome of the case,'' Burns said. Morse said his office is awaiting the police report before taking action. "It's very much in the early stages,'' the prosecutor said. Tom Tolen can be reached at ttolen@livingstoncommunitynews.com or at (810) 844-2009                                           Wed, Jan. 11, 2006 B'ham police arrest two in dog fighting caseAssociated PressBIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Two men are charged in connection with a recent dog fighting incident in Birmingham. Police arrested 42-year-old George Lacey of Fairfield and 28-year-old Rashata Lee of Ensley. According to Lt. Hank Irby, a police spokesman, arrest warrants were issued for Lacey and Lee for their alleged roles in a dog fighting which occurred December 12th. No other information about the incident was available. Lacey remains in the Jefferson County Jail in lieu of a ten-thousand Source: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/local/13600391.htm Dog fighting arrests made in Mableton Georgia                                                                                  Teen charged in theft of Pit Bulls Two charged over fighting dogs in Cobb A veterinarian called to the home, in the 6100 block of South Glen Forrest Street, to check the condition of the dogs admitted one to an animal hospital, said police spokesman Cpl. Dana Pierce. The other 14 were taken to the Cobb animal shelter, Pierce said. "The Cobb County Intelligence Unit was able to contact the owner of the dogs as well as the property owner," Pierce said. "When they arrived at the residence, they were taken into custody along with a third individual for an unrelated charge." Leon Cecil Conley, 26, of Lithonia was jailed on 11 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, four counts of cruelty to animals and one count of dogfighting, Pierce said. Joni Duran, 36, of Mableton, the property owner, faces 15 counts of cruelty to animals, Pierce said. Conley's nephew, Demetruis Issac Heywood, 23, also of Lithonia, was charged with carrying a concealed weapon. Dogfighting is illegal in all 50 states and a felony in almost every state. In Georgia, dogfighting is a felony punishable upon conviction by a mandatory fine of $5,000 and a possible prison sentence of one to five years. The animals were living in "deplorable" conditions without food, Pierce said. One of the dogs had eaten dirt and rocks, he said. "The only water they had appeared to be rainwater that had accumulated in their dishes," Pierce said. If the dogs are not returned to their owner, they will remain at the animal shelter and may be put up for adoption, Pierce said. Despite having been illegal in Georgia since 1982, dogfights continue to draw large audiences. In January 2004, 123 people were arrested in Newton County after officers raided a well-organized, high-stakes dogfight. Among those charged with felony gambling and cruelty to animals was a Clayton County Juvenile Court investigator, who was later fired for his alleged connection to a dogfighting ring. Three of the 14 dogs seized in that raid were later stolen in a late-night break-in at an animal shelter, and another died of its wounds from the fight. The remaining 10 dogs seized were euthanized, officials said. Those arrested had gathered for a night of gambling and dogfighting with a winner-take-all pot of $50,000, officials said. Officers were tipped off to the fight by officials from Bibb and Jones counties. They counted more than 70 cars lining the street outside the house. Only two had Newton County tags; the rest bore out-of-state or Middle Georgia county plates, said Newton County Sheriff Joe Nichols. Deputies also recovered about a dozen guns, several kilograms of marijuana and cocaine and more than $250,000, said Sheriff's Sgt. Mark Mitchell. Deputies also found four trophies engraved with the date of the dogfight, he said. "This wasn't a gathering of people who just happened to hear about it and showed up," Mitchell said. "It was well planned."                                           Correction: An earlier version of this story contained incorrect information about one of the dogs stolen from the Hudson Mohawk River Humane Society. Archie, a pit bull-American bulldog mix, was initially taken to the East Greenbush Animal Hospital and then moved to the Humane Society, where he was euthanized. COLONIE -- A Cohoes teenager is facing charges that he stole two pit bulls from the Mohawk & Hudson River Humane Society and allegedly used one of them in a dog fight. The dog used for fighting was later found on a street in Rensselaer and was so severely injured that it had to be euthanized, Menands Police Chief Michael O'Brien said. Michael R. Sumner, 17, of Kosciusko Avenue in Cohoes, was arrested Sunday after a police investigation and charged with one count of burglary, a felony, as well as one count of criminal mischief and two counts of petit larceny, all misdemeanors. O'Brien said Sumner broke into the shelter on two occasions. On Jan. 18, he allegedly stole a 3-year-old female pit bull named Momma, and on the night of Jan. 22, authorities said, he returned and stole Archie, a 3-year-old male pit bull/American bulldog that was found less than two days later lying on a street in Rensselaer. The animal had bite marks across his body and injuries to his intestines that were so severe that Archie was brought to the East Greenbush Animal Hospital, then moved to the Humane Society where doctors determined they had to euthanize the animal. "He was just a big galoot, waiting for rescue," said Cydney Cross, manager of the Mohawk & Hudson River Humane Society. "The greatest crime was that he was just a heavy, goofy dog, and the person who took him thought he would be a fighting dog. These dogs do not choose to do this." After police located Sumner, the other dog -- Momma -- was found unharmed in Rensselaer and returned to the shelter. Cross said she believes Sumner wanted to use Momma to breed pit bull pups. After the first burglary in which Momma was stolen, Cross said Sumner showed up at the shelter, claiming to be looking for his father's dog. He was shown a number of animals and told shelter employees that Archie was the dog he was looking for. But since he did not have proof of ownership, the shelter would not let him take the dog, Cross said. That weekend, Archie turned up missing. The same day Archie was euthanized, his owner, an Albany man who said he had lost Archie, showed up to claim him and was told what happened. "The poor young man was in tears," Cross said. "He kept saying, 'Why did they have to do this to my dog?' " Rensselaer police are investigating to see if additional charges of dog fighting or animal cruelty can be lodged against Sumner in that municipality and who else was involved. Sumner is being held in the Albany County jail in lieu of $2,500 bail. Source: http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=445444&category=ALBANY&BCCode=LOCAL&newsdate=1/31/2006  Nash County ,NC Deputy breaks up dogfight enterprise                                                 NY, 21 year old uses Pit puppy to train others to fight. Herald Staff Report 2.20.2006 ENFIELD - A Halifax County Sheriff's Office deputy, acting on a tip from a neighboring law enforcement agency, busted up what appeared to be a large-scale dogfighting event Friday night. Deputy Tim Harris was following up on a tip from the Nash County Sheriff's Office that a dogfight was to take place at 8 p.m., at 4888 Fishing Creek Road in Enfield, Detective Bobby Martin told the Daily Herald Saturday. When Harris arrived at the home, he saw nothing at first, but when he went around to the back he found 40 to 50 people standing around a wooden ring. One dog, a pit bull, was inside the ring. The walls of the ring were “covered in blood” and it looked as if some fights had already taken place, Martin said. The people scattered when Harris arrived. The dog owners apparently fled into the nearby woods and others jumped into their vehicles and drove away. Deputies also found three pit bulls, one was bleeding from a wound to its tail, in two SUVs that had apparently been abandoned when their owners ran. Animal Control was called and the dogs were extracted from the vehicles and taken to the animal shelter. Near the ring, Harris found a scale, first-aid medication, saline packs and other medical supplies. Harris was able to arrest one man, Derek Bernard Taylor, 33, of Rocky Mount, who ran at first, but later returned to the scene. Taylor, a salesman at a Rocky Mount automotive dealership, was actually driving a vehicle with dealer tags, Martin said. He claimed he was only on the property to sell a truck. He was charged with participating in a dogfight, which is a felony. The property owner, Bryan Lee Bartholomew, 24, was also charged with facilitating a dogfight. Martin said the fighting ring had lights set up by it and a electric cord led from Bartholomew's mobile home. After receiving his permission, Harris searched the home looking to find some sort of video or other indication of his involvement in the fight. A video was not located, but Harris did find bloodline papers and pedigree information. He also discovered seven ounces of marijuana that had apparently been prepackaged into smaller bags, presumably to be sold. Bartholomew was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana with intent to sell and deliver and maintaining a dwelling for the manufacturing or sale of marijuana. He was also charged with possession of stolen property after it was discovered that a 2003 motorcycle in his yard had been stolen from Wilson. Police are still investigating if other items on Bartholomew's property were stolen. Both men were taken to the Halifax County Detention Center. Terry was held under a $2,000 secured bond and his court date is scheduled for March 21. Bartholomew was held on a $18,000 secured bond and his court date is scheduled for March 29 Source: http://www.rrdailyherald.com/articles/2006/02/19/news/news.txt                                                                          February 22, 2006 *LONG ISLAND NEW YORK* Cops: Pit practiced on pups It was one cruelty after another that finally led to the arrest of a Roosevelt man for abusing adult and puppy pit bulls, Nassau police said yesterday. Last week a humane society investigator said he noticed the mother of the pit bull puppies tethered to an inches-long leash and unable to lie down, finally hanging to death from exhaustion. Then, days later, he noticed a puppy being dangled by his owner over the nose of a violent adult male pit bull, who responded by taking a bite out of the puppy's head, officials said. These incidents, coming on the heels of months of complaints from neighbors, resulted in the arrest Monday of Geofreda Rivera, 21, of 7 Park Ave. He was using the puppies as bait while training the adult male pit bull to be a lucrative dog fighter, according to Nassau police and Marc Jurnow, the executive director of Ispeak in Plainview, a humane society. Rivera was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals - a felony punishable by up to two years in prison - torturing animals and prohibition animal fighting, police said. Observation of Rivera's home began in late fall, when teachers from a nearby elementary school contacted Ispeak after noticing that the puppies were being kept outside day and night during the wintry weather with no shelter, Jurnow said. The 10 puppies reported to be alive at the beginning of the winter soon dwindled to five, Jurnow said. The remaining pups were covered by an overhang, but that area was covered in feces, investigators said. "They were being kept outside day and night and were being forced to drink out of puddles," said Det. Lt. Andrew Fal of Nassau's First Squad. "It was sad." Then the two incidents last week were even worse, Fal said. In addition to the female who hung herself, the puppy waved over the fighter's face already had a missing eye, which led investigators to believe that the fighter had already in the past bitten the pup's eye out, according to Jurnow and Fal. Police raided the home at 6 p.m. Monday. When the officers got there, it took nearly 10 of them to restrain the fighting pit bull, finally tackling him to the ground, Jurnow said. "And he still kept fighting," said Jurnow. "When these dogs get vicious you can't stop them." Fal said police recovered the fighting dog, a 1-year-old pit bull and the five puppies. Jurnow said that during Monday's raid he recognized several people at the home from the illegal dog fighting industry. "Some of them were involved in a raid we did in March also in Roosevelt," Jurnow said. "Unfortunately we're seeing dog fighting all over the place now." Authorities also learned that the mother who hung herself was buried in the backyard, and the pup with the injured eye was being hidden in the basement, Jurnow said. At his arraignment at First District Court in Hempstead, Rivera was held on bail of $10,000 cash or $16,000 bond. Source: www.chronicle-tribune.com Johnston CO N.C Shooting Leads Police to Dog fighting.                                                       Johnston CO. NC UPDATE: Danny Edwards Dead. * TRISTON HENSON February 24, 2006 Johnston Shooting Leads Authorities To Alleged Dog-Fighting Pit One Man Sought In Shooting; Another Arrested On Dog Fighting Charges POSTED: 11:17 pm EST February 24, 2006 UPDATED: 8:27 pm EST February 25, 2006 JOHNSTON COUNTY, N.C. -- A shooting uncovered a possible dog fighting operation. Now authorities are busy with two investigations. Authorities say 25-year-old Keon Rowe shot 31-year-old Danny Edwards of Kenly around 9:30 p.m. during an argument over a pit bull sale. Edwards was airlifted to Pitt Memorial Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition early Saturday evening. When authorities arrived at the scene on Highway 42 near Clayton, they found 42 dogs and a pit underneath a barn on the property used for. There was also training equipment and dog medicines located on the scene. Around 5 p.m. Saturday, 34-year-old Triston Hinson was arrested on dog fighting charges. He also faces cocaine possession charges. He how being held in the Johnston County Jail. Authorities are still searching for Rowe, who was last seen driving a white Mustang GT. The motive for the shooting is still unknown. Source: www.wral.com UPDATE: February 27,2006 Johnston County police are on the lookout for a suspect in a Friday shooting on an isolated Johnston County farm that also turned up a major dogfighting operation. Police believe Keon Kentell Rowe, 25, shot Danny Ray Edwards, 31, of J. Howell Road in Kenly at a farmhouse near the Wilson County line, said Tammy Amaon, spokeswoman for the Johnston County Sheriff's Office. Rowe left the scene in a white Mustang GT. Police believe he may have fled to New York or New Jersey. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Johnston County Sheriff's Office at 989-5100. Edwards was in critical condition at Pitt Memorial Hospital late Saturday. Sheriff's deputies uncovered a large-scale dogfighting operation while investigating the shooting, and confiscated 47 fighting pit bulls from the farm of Tristan Hinson, 35, where the shooting occurred. Hinson is facing felony dog-fighting charges. He was being held in the Johnston County jail. Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell said he got a call about 9:30 p.m. Friday, after a woman approached two deputies parked at a gas station in the small farming community of Stancil's Chapel. She said her boyfriend had been shot. Less than a mile away down a dirt path, deputies found Edwards lying on the ground near the back deck of a farmhouse. The victim was taken by helicopter to Pitt Memorial Hospital. The suspect had already fled. Police said Hinson lived at the farmhouse with his girlfriend. Rowe, who Bizzell said lives in Ashe County, had been staying with them for several days. The victim and his girlfriend were visiting when Edwards was shot, Bizzell said. "Apparently they'd been involved in an argument earlier in the week over some pit bull dogs," Bizzell said. Deputies and animal control officers found a barn behind the house that housed a fighting pit. They also found medication for the dogs and training equipment such as sticks used to separate the dogs. They also found dogs on chains and a litter of puppies in a cage. "Apparently they were breeding, fighting and selling fighting [dogs]," Bizzell said. Bizzell said the house in the rural Stancil's Chapel community was an ideal setting to raise dogs without being seen. The house and barn were a half mile from the main road and backed by large farms with no houses nearby. His office had never heard a complaint about dogs in the area. "This is a rural farming community, close-knit," Bizzell said. "Everybody gathers at the store for breakfast. They probably didn't know they had a dogfighting ring in their back yard." Source:www.newsobserver.com                                           Update: Shooting uncovers Dog Fighting Operation Nearly 50 pit bulls were seized over the weekend from a possible dog-fighting operation in the Stancil's Chapel community. The Johnston County Sheriff's Office responded Friday night to reports of a shooting at 11157 N.C. 42 East near Kenly, said sheriff's spokesman Tammy Amaon. They found Danny Edwards, 31, of J. Howell Road, Kenly, lying near a farmhouse. Edwards was airlifted to Pitt Memorial Hospital, where he died Sunday. Deputies discovered 47 pit bulls and a fighting pit that had been dug beneath a barn on the property. Animal control officers called to the scene found medication for the dogs and equipment that could be used to train dogs to fight. The homeowner, Triston Hinson, 34, was charged with promoting dog-fighting, a felony, and possession of cocaine, Amaon said. Hinson faces his first court appearance today. Amaon said it's doubtful that anyone else will be charged with dog-fighting. "He had 47 dogs and was breeding them to fight. We don't know of anyone else who was involved." The dogs were taken to the Johnston County Animal Shelter. Investigators believe Edwards argued with Keon Kentell "Max" Rowe, 25, over a pit bull sale, leading to the shooting around 9:30 p.m., Amaon said. Rowe is believed to be an Ashe County resident. He reportedly left the scene in a white Mustang GT and had not been arrested as of this morning. Anyone with information can call the Johnston County Sheriff's Office at 919-989-5100.    Man Previously Convicted Of Dog Fighting arrested again.                                                   Suspect Arrested In Dog Fighting Murder  NC Timothy Elkins COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Since February 2002, 58 people have been charged with dog fighting out of 32 search warrants. The alleged incidents involve more than 100 dogs, and a new arrest is likely to add to those numbers, officials said.Franklin County Sheriff's deputies searched four homes recently and found more than 24 pit bulls, NBC 4's Nancy Burton reported. The dogs were fighting each other while deputies took photographs as evidence.A tip from the community led officials to a home on South Fifth Street, where deputies allegedly found 26 wounded dogs confined in wooden crates. "These dogs were kept in these things with no windows," said Chief Deputy Steve Martin, of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. Investigators arrested 38-year-old Timothy Elkins and charged him with dog fighting. "It is still a phenomenon to me that people enjoy watching these animals suffer like this. It's just so brutal," Martin said. Investigators said Elkins has been accused of dog fighting before. "Timothy Elkins has been convicted of dog fighting in the past, back in 2002, and they continue to do this," Martin said. Elkins' brother, Todd, and sister, Tiffany, were arrested on unrelated charges. The county is trying to nurse the dogs back to health, while deputies work on the criminal case against Elkins. Watch NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for additional information.                                           SUFFOLK, Va. -- U.S. Marshals arrested a man wanted in connection with a shooting death that occurred during an illegal dog fighting operation in Johnston County. Keon Kentell "Max" Rowe, 25, was captured in Suffolk, Va. He's accused of killing 31-year-old Danny Ray Edwards at the home of Triston Henson on Feb. 24. Detectives found Edwards with a gunshot wound to his head. They also seized 47 pit bulls, a cache of drugs and illegal liquor at the home. Henson, 25, was arrested and faces dog fighting and drug charges. Rowe is being held in Suffolk awaiting extradition back to Johnston County. POSTED: 10:48 am EST March 10, 2006 UPDATED: 12:20 pm EST March 10, 2006                                                                                                                       Chicago, 3 held as raid nets drugs &  12 Pit Bulls                                                                   Johnston CO. NC UPDATE: Danny Edwards Dead. UPDATED MAY 23,2006 "12 pit bulls suspected in dogfighting euthanized" Twelve dogs were led out of a Steger kennel recently and loaded into Will County Animal Control vans, carried off to be euthanized. The seven female and five male pit bull terriers had been housed at the kennel since March, when they were nabbed as evidence in a felony dogfighting and drug case against a Monee couple. Though the kennel's owner, Donna Jones, was in charge only of the dogs' feeding and care, she asked if any of the dogs could be evaluated for adoption -- especially the five puppies -- through a local pit bull group called Chicagoland Bully Breed Rescue. But that could hurt the state's dogfighting case, Jones was told May 12, as animal control officers removed the dogs from her facility and an attorney for Bully Breed scrambled to stay the execution. Will County Animal Control said Monday they have to put down all dogs involved in, bred for or exposed to dogfighting for the sake of public safety. If dogs are placed in homes as pets, they must not be considered dangerous, the argument goes. "How can you prove [the defendant] was training all these dogs to fight, and how can you prove these dogs were aggressive enough [if they were adopted]?" animal control officer Mindy Sasser said. Donald Hudgins of Monee is accused of training the pit bulls as fighters, in addition to several drug possession and dealing charges. His wife, Katherine Hudgins, faces the same felony dogfighting charge. Armed with a search warrant obtained after a tip fingered the Monee house for drug sales, police confiscated the 12 dogs, plus an 18-inch-long American alligator and an adult rooster in March, according to the warrant's inventory. They also carried off dozens of cannabis plants, multiple containers of marijuana and cocaine and scales for weighing, the inventory shows. Clancy denied the Hudginses are dogfighters or even dog owners; rather, he said, they belonged to an Alsip-based show club called "Chicago's Finest American Pit Bull Terrier Club," and they were boarding the 12 dogs for two people. Boarding, vet care cost thousands The dog's alleged owners relinquished their ownership rights May 8 in a forfeiture petition requested by animal control, who cited the cost of keeping so many dogs for so long and the potential danger posed by the breed, said Chuck Pelkie, a state's attorney's office spokesman. After about two months in the shelter, the dogs' boarding and veterinary care cost between $5,000 and $10,000. When no one covered the cost, Pelkie said, the dogs became the property of animal control, which then deemed them dangerous because of their suspected fighting background. "We feel that they should at least have been given a chance," Jones said Source:www.suntimes.com *****************************************3 Held as raid nets drugs & Pit bulls Published March 11, 2006 Three people were behind bars Friday after their arrests at a Monee Township home where police found cocaine, marijuana plants and 12 pit bull terriers being trained to fight, officials said. The Will County sheriff's gang suppression unit, with the assistance of police and police dogs from six other agencies, executed a search warrant Thursday at the house in the 28500 block of South Kedzie Avenue. They seized about 35 marijuana plants, nearly 4 ounces of cocaine, nearly 2 1/2 pounds of marijuana packaged for sale, the dogs, a rooster, a Cayman alligator and $1,613, said Pat Barry, the sheriff's spokesman. Donald Hudgins, 38, his wife, Katherine, 39, both of whom lived in the home, and Ramo Curtis, 54, of the 7700 block of South Merrill Avenue in Chicago were charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver; possession of marijuana with intent to deliver; and manufacture and delivery of marijuana. All were being held at the Will County Jail awaiting a Saturday bond call, Barry said. The pit bulls were kept in an outdoor kennel where police found equipment to train them to fight, such as weights to put around their necks, Barry said. Will County animal control authorities took the dogs pending an investigation of potential animal abuse and cruelty. hdardick@tribune.com By Hal Dardick Tribune staff reported SECOND ARTICLE: 12 pit bulls, drugs seized March 11, 2006 BY FRANK MAIN Crime Reporter Donald Hudgins, 38, and Katherine Hudgins, 39, who lived in the home, and Ramo J. Curtis, 54, of Chicago, were charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver after the Thursday afternoon raid of the home at 28541 S. Kedzie south of University Park. Police confiscated more than a kilogram of marijuana, about 35 marijuana plants, more than 100 grams of cocaine, $1,613 in cash, drug equipment and a chicken, Barry said. "This is fairly uncommon," said Dr. Leroy Schild, administrator of the Will County Animal Control Department. "Maybe a couple of times a year we encounter suspicions of fighting dogs. There have been suspicions about this place." Dogs appear unhurt, official says Donald Hudgins is a felon who served two years' probation for a 1998 gun conviction in Cook County, officials said. When an officer stopped his car and smelled marijuana, Hudgins admitted he was carrying a gun and was charged with unlawful use of a weapon. In 1987, he was convicted of possession of a controlled substance, records show. The Will County bust came after police received a tip from a motorist during a traffic stop that drugs were being sold at the Hudgins' home, Barry said. Sheriff's officers and police from New Lenox, Lockport, the Will County Forest Preserve, Romeoville, Matteson and Sauk Village executed a search warrant about 4:45 p.m. Thursday. Although police suspect the dogs were being trained to fight, there was no evidence of organized dog fighting at the home, Barry said. None of the dogs appeared to be injured, he said. Authorities said they expect to file additional charges in connection with the dogs.                                           SECOND UPDATE 3/16/06 -3rdUpdate 6/27/06 Second arrest made in Johnston County murder Johnston County sheriff's deputies have charged another man with murder in a shooting at a suspected dog-fighting venue last month. Danny Ray Edwards was shot and killed Feb. 24 at a farm outside Kenly. Tristan Hinson, the renter of the home on J. Howell Road, is now charged with first-degree murder in Edwards' death. Deputies had already charged Keon K. Rowe with Edwards' death. Rowe, who was staying with Hinson at the time of the shooting, was arrested by U.S. marshals in Virginia last week. Today, deputies also charged Rowe with assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Both Rowe and Hinson are being held in the Johnston County jail. After the shooting, sheriff's deputies found 47 pit bulls trained for fighting at Hinson’s farm. He is also charged with felony dog fighting. Source: http://www.newsobserver.com Update: Shooting uncovers Dog Fighting Operation Nearly 50 pit bulls were seized over the weekend from a possible dog-fighting operation in the Stancil's Chapel community. The Johnston County Sheriff's Office responded Friday night to reports of a shooting at 11157 N.C. 42 East near Kenly, said sheriff's spokesman Tammy Amaon. They found Danny Edwards, 31, of J. Howell Road, Kenly, lying near a farmhouse. Edwards was airlifted to Pitt Memorial Hospital, where he died Sunday. Deputies discovered 47 pit bulls and a fighting pit that had been dug beneath a barn on the property. Animal control officers called to the scene found medication for the dogs and equipment that could be used to train dogs to fight. The homeowner, Triston Hinson, 34, was charged with promoting dog-fighting, a felony, and possession of cocaine, Amaon said. Hinson faces his first court appearance today. Amaon said it's doubtful that anyone else will be charged with dog-fighting. "He had 47 dogs and was breeding them to fight. We don't know of anyone else who was involved." The dogs were taken to the Johnston County Animal Shelter. Investigators believe Edwards argued with Keon Kentell "Max" Rowe, 25, over a pit bull sale, leading to the shooting around 9:30 p.m., Amaon said. Rowe is believed to be an Ashe County resident. He reportedly left the scene in a white Mustang GT and had not been arrested as of this morning. Anyone with information can call the Johnston County Sheriff's Office at 919-989-5100. Third Update June 27/2006 Judge OKs Public Sale Of Pit Bulls Seized In Alleged Dog-Fighting Ring POSTED: 10:04 pm EDT June 27, 2006 UPDATED: 11:17 pm EDT June 27, 2006 JOHNSTON COUNTY, N.C. -- A Johnston County judge ruled last week that 38 pit bulls believed to be bred as part of a large dog-fighting operation can be sold to the public. The Johnston County Sheriff's Office seized 47 of the animals from the scene of a fatal shooting near Kenly in February. In April, a judge agreed to return 38 of them to their owner, Triston Hinson, who is charged with dog fighting, or his girlfriend. "The dogs are really not very human aggressive, they are bred to be animal aggressive, and that's precisely what they are," said Ernie Wilkinson, director of Johnston County Animal Services. "They are, in fact, animal aggressive." The judge's ruling states that Hinson must turn over a bill of sale for each dog to the county's animal services or to the county attorney, listing the new owners' name and address. Each also has an electronic chip so that it can be identified later. Workers at the animal shelter said they recently received a call from a woman claiming she bought 11 of the pit bulls in question, but so far, county officials said, none of the required paperwork has been received. "There is always a concern in our mind, as animal people, that any animal that is fought for sport, that there may be a danger in this animal turning on people," Wilkinson said. Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell said he is also concerned that the dogs are being sold to just about anyone and also that the county will not be able to recoup nearly $20,000 that was spent caring for the dogs. The future of the nine other dogs -- which were the only ones veterinarians could confirm were actually involved in fighting -- is still uncertain. Most of them are being held as evidence. "We have eight in custody, now" Wilkinson said. "We had to euthanize one because of an incident between that and another animal."     Rock Island,IL  Two in Jail on dog fighting charges                                                            S.C  man pleads guilty to dog fighting ,drug charges Two in jail on dogfighting charges An anonymous tip to police landed two Quad-Cities men in jail this weekend for allegedly fighting dogs in a Coal Valley house. The basement of 10319 113th Ave., where police allege the dogs had been fighting, had fresh and dried blood on the walls and floors. "The officers didn't see any action, but the after effects were obvious," Sgt. Mitch Lee of the Rock Island County Sheriff's Department said. Michael D. Reese, 23, of Coal Valley, and Roosevelt Knight Jr., 34, of Bettendorf, were both being held in the Rock Island County Jail late Monday on two counts each of dog fighting. The three pit bulls involved in the alleged fighting were being cared for by animal control. Sgt. Lee said when an anonymous caller complained to Crime Stoppers last week, a deputy checked out the house in Coal Valley but found nothing. Then Saturday, deputies received another call at about 7 p.m. When they went to check it out, Sgt. Lee said, they noticed lights on in the basement and heard dogs barking. A girl who answered the door called out that the police were there and the basement lights went out, he said. A truck left the house and the deputy went to pull it over. The driver, who police allege was Mr. Night, had two dogs with him. "Both dogs had blood on them," Sgt. Lee said. At the house, police found another dog being washed in the shower. Sgt. Lee said none of the dogs were seriously injured. "They weren't on their death bed, but they had been in a fight," he said. Sgt. Lee said one man at the house was wearing a plastic suit and rubber boots. "He was probably the referee," he said. Deputies believe there were two fights between the three dogs Saturday night, but Sgt. Lee said he wasn't sure if any money was traded between anyone there. "They said they were training the dogs," he said. Prosecutors allege in court papers that Mr. Reese, who owned the house, allowed the dog fighting to go on inside the house and even used his own dog, "Poking," to fight. They also allege Mr. Knight, of 2425 Shaker Court, brought two dogs over for fighting. Both men made their first court appearances in Rock Island County Circuit Court Monday afternoon. Their next court date is scheduled for March 21. Posted: Posted online: March 13, 2006 7:40 PM Print publication date: March 14, 2006                                           Columbia) March 14, 2006 - A 26-year-old inmate at the Federal Correctional Institute in Estill pleaded guilty on Monday to one count of animal fighting and various drug charges, including distribution of crack cocaine within one half mile of a school. Judge Lee Alford sentenced Simmons as follows: five years imprisonment for animal fighting, 10 years imprisonment for distribution of crack cocaine within one half mile of a school, 16 years for distribution of crack cocaine - second offense, 10 years imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute marijuana within one half mile of a school and 10 years imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute marijuana - second offense. All sentences are to run concurrently with Simmons' present federal sentence of 20 years imprisonment. Simmons will serve his state time within the federal prison system. Animal Fighting carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and or a fine of $5,000. Distribution of crack cocaine within one half mile of a school carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment (minimum of ten 10 years) and a fine of $10,000. Distribution of crack cocaine - second offense carries a maximum penalty of 30 years imprisonment. Possession with intent to distribute marijuana within one half mile of a school carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $10,000. Possession with intent to distribute marijuana - second offense carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment. Posted 1:11pm by Bryce Mursch   Donald Thomson Indianapolis Indiana Update .                                                                   Animal Control Officer Arrested for Fighting Dogs Update: Donald Thompson was originally charged with: (1) 14 counts of violation of the statute regarding purchase or possession of animals for fighting contests, since he possessed 14 dogs with wounds consistent with dog-fighting (Class A misdemeanor), (2) violation of the statute regarding possession of animal fighting paraphernalia (Class B misdemeanor), (3) violation of the statute regarding promoting or staging an animal fighting contest (Class D felony) Donald Thompson pled guilty to the Class A misdemeanor of possession of animals for fighting contests. He was sentenced to 1 year probation requiring no contact with animals, dog-fighting paraphernalia, or other individuals found guilty of dog-fighting. He was also fined $500 and ordered to contribute $1000 to ACC. If he does not comply with the probation and fines, he will spend 180 days in the county jail. END REPORT Pit Bulls Seized in Dog Fighting Raid Indianapolis-December 14, 2004) -- Dozens of pit bulls were hauled off by animal control officers Monday night. It may have been the largest dog fighting raid in Marion County. Some of the dogs were skittish, others were quick to bite at the officers -- not neccessarily because they're violent, but possibly because they're still trying to heal from injuries. Jeff Bennett, the Indianapolis Animal Care and Control administrator, pointed out 30 impounded pit bulls one by one. Each one has its own violent past. Some have scars to prove it. One had one eye missing and another one had a left leg it couldn’t even stand on. Investigators say the dogs weren't pets. They were trained at a house on the Indianapolis far eastside and used for dog fighting. "It's just a shame that animals are treated this way and bred and treated this way solely for sport and perceived profit,” said Bennett. Authorities also confiscated three treadmills that were modified so that a dog could be chained to it. "I knew there was a lot of dogs over there. I didn't know exactly how many but you could hear them barking nonstop,” said neighbor Luann Watson. Watson says she was nervous to let her children play outside. “One was loose when were getting out of the car one day. And then he ran away and we could finally get out of the car and come in the house after he was gone.” Some of the pit bulls barked, some appeared docile and there was even a pack of puppies. Animal control confiscated 500 items in all. They found dog-fighting magazines, a large amount of animal medications and break sticks that are used to pull dogs apart. Authorities do have a suspect and charges are pending in this case. Dog fighting can lead to felony charges and those could lead to jail time. UPDATE: December 17, 2004 Arrest Made In Dogfighting Case INDIANAPOLIS -- Police made an arrest Friday in what authorities are calling the biggest dogfighting case in Marion County history.Donald Thompson, 37, faces 14 D felony charges of promoting dogfighting after authorities said 30 of his pit bulls seized last week showed signs of injury and scarring. Investigators believe Thompson may have conducted dogfights at his home in the 2900 block of Cumberland Road. Police arrested Thompson after he went to the kennel to visit his dogs. Thompson's bond was set at $50,000.                                         JACKSONVILLE, FL -- An animal control officer new on the job is accused of misusing his position by fighting dogs in his custody instead of protecting them. Troy Major, who is 35-years-old, was arrested this week at his home after police say they found two dogs at his home that had been property of the Animal Control. David Flagler is the head of Animal Control and says, "The good news is we have a suspected dog fighter off the street. The bad news is that this person is a coworker and friend." The police report says that besides dogs, dog fighting equipment used to train dogs was found at Major's home. Flagler says of Major's arrest, "No one had any clue that he had this in his background."                                                                                                                                                                                Teens Face Possible Dog-Fighting Charges INDIANAPOLIS                                                       Pit Bulls Taken to be fought Decatur AL                                                                                                                         Two boys are headed to court for dog fighting. Police arrested them this weekend after noticing their injured dogs. The brown caged pitbull doesn’t look like a fighter, but his scars show otherwise: bite marks on his face, nose, and ears. Animal control says a twelve-year-old boy pitted his pitbull against a pitbull that belongs to his thirteen-year-old friend. The dog was left with scabs on his ear, neck and jaw. "Money. You can win a lot of money dog fighting and a lot of people find it entertaining. Obviously we find it pretty disgusting," said Media Wilson, Animal Care and Control. Most of the dogs being held at Animal Care and Control's investigation unit are too aggressive to be rehabilitated. "Usually a fighting dog can not be rehabilitated to the point where we would put it euthanized," said Wilson. Animal Control says it's sad that boys so young are accused of being involved in such a horrible act in an empty lot on North LaSalle. Wilson calls it "severe animal cruelty." "I understand this is very serious," said the mother of the 12-year-old. She said she understood her son could end up going to juvenile detention. She implied her son had never been involved in dog fighting before. "I really don't want to talk about it," she said. 24-Hour News 8 tried to talk to the thirteen-year-old boy's parents, but no one answered at their home. Both kids will be forced to talk about what happened, and they could face animal neglect charges. Meantime, if you know of dog fighting going on you can call Canine Crime Stoppers at 262-TIPS.                                                        Police: Pit bulls taken to be fought 3/22/2006 A man and a juvenile allegedly stole a pair of pit bulls and pitted them against one another, Decatur police said. A brown and white 2-year-old female and a light brown 8-month-old male, each valued at about $200, disappeared from Curtis Bolden's backyard in the 300 block of Tammy Street Southwest overnight Saturday. Bolden suspected a man who had visited and played with the dogs might have taken them, police said. Bolden gave the suspect another pit bull about a week before. Bolden found his dogs at the suspect's girlfriend's house in the 700 block of Third Avenue Southeast, police said. An officer went to the house and interviewed a witness who said she walked out and saw her 16-year-old brother and the suspect apparently fighting the dogs, police said. She told police she told the two to separate the dogs. "(The dogs) weren't hurt bad. They had little scratches on their noses. The girl did say they were fighting them, though," Bolden said Tuesday. "I filed charges against both of them for theft." Bolden said he doesn't believe the two were involved in any sort of illegal dog fighting operation. They are young and were probably just being reckless, he said. "When I went over there, I looked at (the dog I gave him), and he didn't have any scars on him," Bolden said. Bolden said he was glad to have the pets, one of which belongs to his father, back at home and out of harm's way. Source:By Seth Burkett DAILY Staff Writer sburkett@decaturdaily.com · 340-2355                                   Tuscaloosa AL, man caught dog Fighting                                                                             Indianapolis IN In Dog Fighting  more prevalent  UPDATED 3.23.2006 Northport Man Charged With Animal Cruelty In Dogfighting POSTED: 11:20 am CST March 22, 2006 NORTHPORT, Ala. -- A Northport man accused of using his pit bulls for dogfighting could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of animal cruelty charges. Police said 27-year-old Vodricques Deon Gray is charged with animal cruelty, a class C felony. It is the first time such a charge has been filed as a felony in the city of Northport. Northport police responded to a complaint March 15 regarding two men who were fighting pit bull dogs. Police spokesman Ray Hampton says officers found a bloody male pit bull inside the house. A female pit bull with bite marks and a large gash on her head was found chained to a fence in the backyard. Gray told police that he did not know how the dog got in his backyard. However, besides the dog injuries, police also had a witness to the dogfight. Gray was charged and taken to the Tuscaloosa County Jail. He was released Monday on $2,500 bail. Original Story Below: Man Arrested, Charged With Dog Fighting Police Say They Caught Man In The Act 3/21/2006 TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Authorities said they caught a man who was fighting dogs, while the fighting was going on. Workers at the Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter believe a brown female pit bull was used as bait to train a black male dog to fight. The workers said that last week, a neighbor saw a man fighting the two dogs in a Northport neighborhood and called police, who got there in time to see the male dog mauling the female. "When they got to the residence, they caught them in the act, which almost never happens," said Kelley Strickland, of Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter. Police arrested a 27-year-old man. He is charged with felony dog fighting. The male dog fared better than the female, with just a few scratches. The female was a bloody mess after the fight, but is now recovering well. "She had several cuts, of course, on her face, her ears, her eye, also. Her eye is messed up. We're not sure if she'll be able to see in that eye or not," Strickland said. Authorities said dog fighting is cruel, and that it is also often tied to other, more serious crimes. Authorities said the key to the case is the neighbor who witnessed the fight and called police. They wish more people would be willing to speak up when animals are harmed. The suspect in this case is now free on bond. Officials said it is likely the male dog will be put to sleep because he is trained to fight. It is too early to know what will happen to the female dog. Source:POSTED: 11:39 pm CST March 21, 2006 UPDATED: 11:51 pm CST March 21, 2006 http://www.nbc13.com/news/8176607/detail.html                                          Police Say Dogfighting Becoming More Prevalent 3.22.2006 INDIANAPOLIS -- Police are working to track down people who have been pitting dogs in fights against each other after the discovery of two boys police said were doing it for entertainment. Dogfighting has been a problem for some time, but investigators said some young people are becoming increasingly involved in the gory, cruel crime, 6News' Linda Allen reported. Dogfighting was previously a primarily rural crime, but Indianapolis officials said it has been going on in the city. An underground network of members stages organized events. Indianapolis Animal Care and Control showed 6News some of the evidence. Some pit bulls they now have show serious wounds. One has a paw that has been ripped in two, scabs on his head and signs of older wounds. The dogs were picked up from an east side neighborhood over the weekend when police arrested two boys for allegedly dogfighting in a vacant lot. Indianapolis police Sgt. Jerry Bippus investigates dog fights. Bippus said he believes the boys saw dogfighting elsewhere, then tried it themselves. "It's a bad situation for these 12- and 13-year-olds that they're doing stuff already at that early age," Bippus said. Bippus has investigated dozens of cases over the past few years. Some of his best tips come from the Internet, where organized dog fighters showcase their wares. "What do they get out of it? Money -- it's the money and it's bragging right that I have a nice dog here that's champion," Bippus said. "If you breed a champion or grand champion, it's worth $2,000, $3,000 per dog." A pit bull was found bound and gagged, frozen in a Muncie Dumpster about a year ago. Police said the dog lost the fight before losing its life. Delaware County animal control officers warned 6News then about the growing popularity of dogfighting in Indiana. Authorities said dog fighting is more than just cruel to animals. The sport also brings neighborhood drugs, gambling, guns and criminals. Officials hope stepped up enforcement efforts will cut down on dog fighting in the city. They are also using billboards to try to get information about dogfighting operations. Police asked that anyone who is aware of dog fighting operations to contact Crime Stoppers at (317) 262-TIPS. Source: www.theindychannel.com                                                                                                                                     S.C Residents discover FIGHTING DOG dumping ground.                                                  Suspect Arrested In Dog Fighting Murder  NC YORK COUNTY, S.C. -- Neighbors in York County discovered the bodies of several dogs left on the side of the road. York County Humane Society is more concerned with why the dogs were killed in the first place. The head of the York County Humane Society, Robert Chappell, said he's never seen anything like it -- more than a dozen dead dogs discarded in the woods off Redwood Road, south of Rock Hill. "This is a pit bull, and he has multiple bite wounds," said Chappell. Some of the dogs were already skeletons; others appeared to be dumped only days ago. A woman who discovered the remains is furious about it. "If they don't want the dog bring it to me, take it to the animal shelter. Don't kill it. Don't fight it until it dies," she said. Chappell said he couldn't believe what he saw. It was clear to him that they were fighting dogs left to die. Most were wrapped in plastic and some were still tied with chains and collars. "I'm actually surprised because I didn't expect it to be this bad," Chappell said. "The canine teeth are chipped, they have fractures in their facial bones, fractures in their smaller front leg bones, and that's usually where a dog bites." Felicia Reeves has seen unfamiliar cars on the road late at night. She alerted sheriff's deputies to the problem, but it hasn't stopped. "We've been complaining for a while, and nothing happening. It's just getting worse," said Reeves. Chappell suspects there are more carcasses back in the woods out of sight. The York County Humane Society is working with the York County Sheriff's Department to try and stop the dumping and arrest those responsible. The owner of the property where the dogs were found will have to clean up the mess, even if the dogs don't belong to that person. The humane society will help organize a cleanup. Source:www.wsoctv.com                                          SUFFOLK, Va. -- U.S. Marshals arrested a man wanted in connection with a shooting death that occurred during an illegal dog fighting operation in Johnston County. Keon Kentell "Max" Rowe, 25, was captured in Suffolk, Va. He's accused of killing 31-year-old Danny Ray Edwards at the home of Triston Henson on Feb. 24. Detectives found Edwards with a gunshot wound to his head. They also seized 47 pit bulls, a cache of drugs and illegal liquor at the home. Henson, 25, was arrested and faces dog fighting and drug charges. Rowe is being held in Suffolk awaiting extradition back to Johnston County. POSTED: 10:48 am EST March 10, 2006 UPDATED: 12:20 pm EST March 10, 2006                                                                                                                       Brutal Dog Fights at Indoor Rings - Rochester  NY                                                               Dade City Florida, Alleged Dog Fighting Ring Jane Flasch (Rochester, NY) - The case of a dead dog found earlier this month has animal investigators issuing a warning to pet owners. We have evidence on home video of how serious this problem is, and why the safety of your pet could be at risk. Warning: this story contains pictures and information that some may find difficult to read or watch. An underground video confiscated from a home in Rochester shows owners how to teach their pit bulls to fight. Training methods include running dogs on treadmills for hours and using live bait to lure the dog to pull weights to strengthen its neck. There are even more chilling indications that brutal and aggressive training is going on in Rochester. Investigators discovered the body of a female pit bull badly mauled and left on the railroad tracks. They said she was not a fighter, but was used to bait dogs that are fighters. Dr. Newmark at Lollypop Farm said, "The wounds were so severe she went into shock from blood loss." Lollypop Farm checks carefully before allowing anyone to adopt a pit bull or any other dog. People who are looking for “bait dogs” don't want to pay for an animal, or risk being questioned. That's when your pet could be in danger. Richard Gerbasi of Lollypop Farm said, "They'll use bait dogs to build confidence in their dog…see if they have fighting instincts. It’s sad. We know people who have had dogs stolen for that purpose." Every year investigators seize dogs scarred from fighting, but there is no way to estimate how many missing or runaway dogs have been victimized like the one on the railroad tracks. They emphasize that dog fighting is not impromptu and is not amateur. As one home video confiscated in Rochester (and made by a 14 year old boy,) shows, dogs fight indoors in a ring for big money. The law is apparently not effective as a deterrent against the money that could be made. Gerbasi said, "It’s difficult to catch them in the act, and that's the only way we can prosecute them on a felony." Officials don't want to spread hysteria, but say pet owners should always be careful when leaving animals outside in accessible areas, unattended. The dog that was found dead was a black, three year old female. That's all investigators know right now. Investigators have offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whomever was responsible for the dog found dead. Source:www.13wham.com                                          Officials say the three pit bull terriers seized at an alleged dog fight likely will be euthanized. The two men charged could face prison. DADE CITY - The two men charged in connection with an alleged dog fighting ring broken up by the Pasco Sheriff's Office on Saturday night each could face up to five years in prison. For the dogs, however, it is a death sentence. The three pit bullterriers authorities seized from the blood-stained arena deputies say they found at 37525 Atwater Road will most likely be killed, a Pasco County Animal Services official said. Trained in bloody combat, each bearing the scars of past battles, the animals are too dangerous to let live. "They would have to be euthanized," said Animal Services Director Denise Hilton. "They would not be safe to put out in the community, to re-home in any capacity. "You're left with virtually no options." Benjamin Brown, a 41-year-old Dade City man who lives at the Atwater Road address, and Rodolfo Cabrera, 25, of Hialeah each were charged with fighting or baiting animals, a third-degree felony that can carry up to $10,000 in fines. Brown is accused of accepting $500 to let the fight take place on his property. Cabrera is accused of owning one of the pit bullterriers that was to fight the other two. Both posted $10,000 bail and were released from the county jail Sunday. Deputies seized two vehicles and found guns, marijuana and more than $20,000 cash. Two anonymous tips about a scheduled dog fight led deputies to the Atwater Road location, a sheriff's report said. When deputies arrived at 8:30 p.m., the report said, about 20 men scattered and fled the area. On the northeast corner of the property, inside a shed, deputies said they found a dogfighting arena and outside it a cockfighting arena. Dried blood covered both. At first, Brown agreed to let deputies search the property but said he didn't know if any animal fighting was taking place. "When asked about where all the blood and feathers came from," a deputy wrote in the report, "he stated one of his pit bulls got loose from its cage and attacked one of his chickens." Then Brown called his lawyer, who told him to stop cooperating and end the deputies' search of the property. Brown was then arrested. Deputies said he later told them this story: he accepted $500 from Cabrera and another man the report only identifies as "Big Boy" to use Brown's fighting arena because of his wife's medical expenses. Cabrera said he was there only to sell his pit bullterrier for $800 to a man whose identity he did not know. On the property, deputies said they found all the accoutrements of an animal fighting ring: a roll of red admission tickets, a refrigerator stocked with animal medical supplies, and two treadmills with leashes attached to keep the dogs running continuously. "I know the homeowner said someone just asked him to use the location," sheriff's spokesman Kevin Doll said. "But from the description of the deputies, apparently there was a set-up for that purpose. Now how many fights were conducted there, I'm not sure we have the answer yet." The investigation is ongoing, Doll said, and he could not say if more arrests are imminent. "It looks like the Sheriff's Office got there before any fights took place," Hilton said. "I'm not seeing any open wounds (on the dogs), so it's a good thing their timing was excellent." But the animals do bear scars of past fights, she said. A woman called Animal Services on Monday trying to get two of the dogs back but was refused, Hilton said. An indefinite hold has been placed on them, and Animal Services will ask a county judge to grant the agency legal ownership. Once that happens, then the dogs will be put to death. But their lives ended long before, Hilton said. "They're destroyed in so many ways you can't even imagine," she said, "and these people claim that they love their animals. "I can't see how they can possibly love them when they do this to them." Source:By JAMAL THALJI, Times Staff Writer Published March 28, 2006 www.sptimes.com                                                                                                                                                   Minneapolis man under investigation for Dog Fighting                                                       2 Arrested Two In Alleged  Dog-Fighting Ring N.C   A Minneapolis man is angry after animal control raided his home Monday night and took possession of his dogs Maurice Wallace says Minneapolis Animal Control removed three pit bulls from their cages in his backyard. When approached by a 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS photographer, Wallace responded angrily and forced the camera away. Wallace later said he is being investigated for being involved in dog fighting. "They say I'm under investigation for dog fighting,” says Wallace. “You don’t see me [involved] in dog fighting, I don't even know anything about dog fighting." Officials at animal control say they will not comment on the case because it is an ongoing investigation. Keith Streff at the Humane Society says dog fighting is a large problem in Minnesota. Wallace says he only raises dogs at his home and sells puppies. “I clean my kennels three times a week,” Wallace says. “I clean them Monday, Wednesday and Friday.” Source:http://www.kstp.com/article/stories/S15156.html?cat=1                                      SAMPSON COUNTY, N.C. -- Sampson County authorities are investigating a dog-fighting ring that they say operated in a house -- without the owner's knowledge. Animal control officers received a tip and raided a house in the northern part of the county. Animal control officers say people broke in and turned the living room into a dog-fighting arena. Blood was on the walls and floor, and furniture in the house had been rearranged in such a way that dogs could not escape the ring. The woman who grew up in the house, Brenda McLemore, now lives elsewhere, but still owns the house. She said she had no idea someone was using the house. Authorities arrested two suspects in connection with the ring -- Tyson Fisher and Bradford DeShazer -- and charged each of them with cruelty to animals. Animal control officers also seized a pit bull that was bleeding from his face and legs. "He was in very bad shape when we picked him up," said Sampson County Animal Control Chief Tim Bass. "He hardly could walk from the injuries he received." Officers think the dog will live. Last month, the same officers broke up a cockfighting ring and found more than 80 roosters. Five people were arrested in connection with that case. Reporter: Jason Stoogenke Photographer: Michael Joyner Web Editor: Kelly Gardner                                                                                                                                                            Fayetteville State Basketball Player Faces  charges                                                                      Dog Fighting in Watertown New York? 3.30.2006 Fayetteville State men’s basketball player Brad Deshazor faces felony charges of cruelty to animals and dog fighting after Sampson County authorities found him and another Fayetteville man sitting in a car with a bloody pit bull last Thursday night. Deshazor, 21, was in the driveway of an abandoned house that Sampson County animal control officers have been monitoring because of several recent complaints, according to Tim Bass, chief animal control officer for Sampson County. Deshazor and the car’s owner, Tyson Maurice Fisher, 31, were taken to the Sampson County Detention Center. At least two other cars and six more people were at the abandoned home in the Vann Crossroads district of Sampson County, Bass said. But only Fisher’s car had enough evidence to warrant arrests. The dog was severely bloodied and couldn’t walk, Bass said. Animal control impounded the dog. “They had the dog in their possession,” Bass said. “We found all the evidence we needed for dog fighting.” Inside the house, sheriff’s department and animal control officers discovered a fighting ring. Bass said people were guarding the property with guns. “We’ve had tips that they were fighting over there,” Bass said. “But we hadn’t been able to catch them.” Fayetteville State coach Sam Hanger knew only scattered details about the arrest when contacted Tuesday. “I’m going to reserve my judgment until I know exactly what’s going on,” Hanger said. “If it looks like a fire and it lights up a fire, usually there’s a fire. But I’m going to reserve judgment for now.” Deshazor, a junior guard, started eight games and played in 24 during the Broncos’ 14-13 season. The Danville, Va., product averaged 5.5 points. Hanger said any previous problems he’s had with Deshazor have been minor. “He’s a good kid,” Hanger said. “He’s working hard to graduate. I hope this is not going to set him back.” Hanger said Deshazor attended a team workout with recruits Saturday, but didn’t mention the arrest. North Carolina laws regarding dog fighting cover those who train or use dogs for fighting, and those who observe the events. All are felonies. Bass said Cumberland County Animal Control will search the residences of Fisher and Deshazor later this week. Source:http://www.fayettevillenc.com/article?id=229762                                                         Updated: 3/31/2006 11:52 PM Two people were arraigned Thursday night in connection with a deadly animal abuse case. Dominick Mattocks, 20, is charged with prohibited animal fighting, animal cruelty and aggravated animal cruelty. The other man, Walt Davis, is also charged with prohibited animal cruelty. Both own the pit bull that attacked and killed a cat last Saturday. The scene was all caught on tape by a surveillance camera. Police say they aren't done with their investigation. "We're still conducting this to see if there are any other additional charges need to be lodged against these gentlemen or anybody else," said Watertown Police Lieutenant Frank Derrigo. Bail for Mattocks was set at $15,000 dollars cash and $2,000 for Davis. *************************************** 3/30/06 A dog's attack on a cat on Watertown's Mechanic Street may be related to a dog fighting ring in the city. Susan Lyndaker, whose cat was killed in the incident says she's been told by authorities that the pitbull had numerous wounds from fighting other dogs. "Definitely, that was the purpose of that dog," Lyndacker told NewsWatch50. "It apparently had been fighting another dog and had lost the fight and they had brought the dog out to, I guess to get it excited or something again. That was the reason for the dog coming down here after the cat that day." A neighbor's surveillance camera system recorded five young men watching and videotaping the dog as it went into a yard, killed the cat and dragged it back out onto the street. Lyndaker was told by City Police that the owner of the pitbull that killed her cat faces dog and cat cruelty charges. So far police have yet to make an arrest, telling Lyndaker that the suspect appears to have fled to his home state of Virginia. She said police told her that of the five young men who watched the dog's attack on her cat, only the dog's owner will face charges. Meanwhile, she says one of the young men in the group reappeared in the neighborhood with what appeared to be a pitbull pup in tow. Authorities believe dogs are being being placed in battle against one another in the basements of several homes in the city. "I hate to say the pitbulls, because it's not their fault. But if that's what they're breeding these dogs for and that's what they're doing with them, then they [police] have a bigger problem than just a dog killing a cat," Lyndaker said. City Police involved in the investigation could not be reached for comment                                                                                                                                                                      10 arrested in Dog Fighting Raids, U.K                                                                                     Waterloo Man arrested for Dog Fighting Second Update:4.5.2006: Rescued dogs 'could be put down' Dozens of dogs face being put down after RSPCA raids at 16 homes across the Birmingham area. The animal charity said this was its largest ever single operation. Some 47 dogs were seized by animal welfare inspectors and West Midlands Police across the city, but the animals face an uncertain future. Ten men were arrested for possession of dangerous dogs and alleged dog-fighting offences. The dogs are said to be so dangerous that they cannot be rehomed. The raids followed a 12-month investigation, and the RSPCA believes the men all know each other and fight as one kennel in Birmingham with other dog-fighting gangs around the country. Speaking at a press conference at West Midlands Police headquarters in Birmingham on Wednesday, Ch Insp John Wilkins said: "The raids involved 32 RSPCA inspectors - that's 10% of the whole of the RSPCA inspector force. "This is the largest single operation that the RSPCA has undertaken and is the largest number of dogs taken from a single area. "I don't think we have broken the back of it but I think we have taken a lot of fighting dogs out of operation." Inspectors from across the Midlands, London and Wales, were drafted in to help recover the animals, which were mainly American pit bull terrier-type dogs. They were suffering injuries including a dislocated hip, a tumour, and a swollen rib cage from being kicked. 'Not pets' Mr Wilkins said the dogs had been removed to locations around the country pending the outcome of any possible prosecution. He added: "It's important not to think of these dogs as pets. "These are tools used for dog-fighting. They are kept in kennels in yards. The dogs are very strong, very powerful. "They are bred for the purpose of fighting, that is their sole purpose. These aren't the kind of dogs that can be rehomed or taken out on a park to socialise with other dogs." Legislation means if any of the dogs were found to be of a dangerous breed they would be put down. The maximum penalty for someone found guilty of dog-fighting offences under the Protection of Animals Act is six months in prison or a £5,000 fine. The men arrested on Tuesday in Hodge Hill, Saltley, Alum Rock, Smethwick, Lozells and Aston were in their late teens to mid-20s and were bailed to appear at police stations between mid-May and late June. UPDATE4.4.2006: Midlands dog fighting ring Apr 5 2006 A total of 47 dogs were seized by police and the RSPCA yesterday after raids on properties with alleged links to dog fighting. In Birmingham, 16 addresses were searched with dog fighting paraphernalia, three treadmills, veterinary kits and a video, seized. West Midlands Police arrested ten men who have been interviewed in connection with possession of dangerous dogs and alleged dog fighting offences. They were bailed pending further inquiries. The raids, in Hodge Hill, Handsworth, Saltley, Alum Rock, Smethwick, Lozells and Aston, were part of Operation Lace First Story: BBC Birmingham - UK Forty-seven dogs have been seized in raids as part of an operation to tackle alleged dog fighting in Birmingham. The RSPCA said 10 men were arrested and dog fighting paraphernalia confiscated including veterinary kits and a video. The men were arrested and later bailed in relation to alleged dog fighting and the possession of dangerous dogs. The 16 raids at addresses in Hodge Hill, Saltley, Alum Rock, Smethwick, Lozells and Aston follow raids by police and the RSPCA in February. 'Barbaric sport' Following the raids more than a month ago, 22 men were questioned and could face charges after officers went to an address in Alum Rock where they believed a dog fight was taking place. Four other men were bailed. Officers found two badly injured dogs at the scene. One died from its injuries and the second had to be put down. The dogs seized on Tuesday were all of a "pit bull type" said the RSPCA. Ch Inps John Wilkins, from the RSPCA Special Operations Unit, said he was pleased with the latest raids. "We are extremely pleased with the operation and would like to thank the West Midlands Police for their help and co-operation. "It's astonishing to think that, even in the 21st Century there are still a small minority of people who enjoy the barbaric sport of pitting one dog against another and we will continue to make sure that those are dealt with through the courts                                           April 5, 2006 - Waterloo Man Arrested For Dogfighting A Waterloo man faces charges after police broke up a dog fighting event, yesterday afternoon. A caller led police to a dog fight in the area of East Fourth and Lester Streets. Police arrested Walter Hoskins the fourth, for dog fighting, and took his injured pit bull. They say other people involved took off with one or more other dogs. If convicted, Hoskins could get five years in prison. Waterloo police say dog fighting does happen in the community, but they're not prepared to call it an organized ring. Community tips are the best way to prevent dog fighting. Residents should be aware of groups of pitbulls in one area and neighbors with dog training equipment in their yard.    Pit Bulls Seized in Elizabeth City VA.Drug Raid                                                                  VA.  17 pit bulls & items linked to dog fights taken.    11:16 AM EDT on Thursday, April 6, 2006 Two men are charged by Elizabeth City, N.C. police with drug dealing and animal cruelty against three pit bull dogs. Travis Gordon, 22, was arrested at his Westway Drive home Tuesday afternoon. Police are searching for Travis Wilson, 19, also of Westway Drive. Authorities say they seized about 40 grams of marijuana, two grams of crack cocaine, a .22 caliber revolver, a shotgun, two sets of digital scales, numerous articles of drug paraphernalia and more than $600.00 cash. Additionally, animal control authorities say they seized three pit bull dogs, one of which was found in the trunk of a car. Police said the arrests came after they received many complaints about illegal narcotics activity in the Southgate Manor area. The investigation continues. In an unrelated case, police arrested an Elizabeth City man Tuesday night on drug and firearms charges. They said Rudolph William Ross, 35, is wanted in New York City on charges connected to an armed robbery, attempted carjacking and attempted murder. Police said they recovered two 9mm handguns and about three grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Ross faces extradition to New York to face criminal charges. Source:http://www.wvec.com                                       CHESAPEAKE 4.6.2006 - Police who served a search warrant on a home in the southern portion of the city last week confiscated nearly 20 pit bulls while looking for dogfighting paraphernalia. An animal control officer wrote on the warrant, filed in Circuit Court, that he was working with another officer to check the conditions of several pit bulls at a home in the 2700 block of Seven Eleven Road last week. At least two of the dogs had scars that were "consistent with typical patterns from dogfighting,' Brian Burda, the animal control officer, wrote. "I observed a scale suspended by heavy lumber,' Burda wrote. "In this officers' training and education, this device is used to weigh dogs before dogfighting matches.' Local: Take 'em out to the Tides game U.S.: Duke University's Reputation at Risk More Videos / Submit Yours See the complete Pilot, exactly as in print - View stories, photos and ads - E-mail clippings - Print copies Log in or learn more Along with 17 dogs, officers took several items from the home, including the scales and medical supplies. They also seized equipment that they described in the warrant as being used to condition dogs for fighting. So far, no one has been charged in connection with the dogs. Also last week, police received a call from someone who claimed to have been assaulted at the home. When they investigated the report, they learned more details about the dogs, said Christi Golden, police spokeswoman. Officers already were investigating the home for other reasons, Golden said, and had seen items on the property that prompted them to investigate the care of the dogs. Burda wrote in the warrant that he saw the dogs tethered with heavy-duty collars. The dogs were chained close together, but not close enough to make contact, he wrote. In his experience, he wrote, the confinement is "consistent with restraint of fighting dogs.' A source named in the warrant told police that the dogs were taken to North Carolina to fight. The individual said that if the dogs didn't perform well in the fights, they were shot, Burda wrote. Source: hamptonroads.com Second Story: Police confiscated 17 pit bulls while looking for dogfighting paraphernalia at a home in Chesapeake. Animal control office Brian Burda wrote on a search warrant filed in Circuit Court that two of the dogs had scars consistent with patterns for dogfighting. He also found a scale that appeared to be used to weigh dogs before dogfighting matches. In addition to the dogs, officers confiscated the scales, medical supplies and equipment they described as being used to condition dogs for fighting. A source named in the warrant told police that the dogs were taken to North Carolina to fight and were shot if they didn't perform well. So far, no one has been charged. (Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Second Story: Authorities seize 17 pit bulls, dogfighting paraphernalia CHESAPEAKE, Va. Police confiscated 17 pit bulls while looking for dogfighting paraphernalia at a home in Chesapeake. Animal control office Brian Burda wrote on a search warrant filed in Circuit Court that two of the dogs had scars consistent with patterns for dogfighting. He also found a scale that appeared to be used to weigh dogs before dogfighting matches. In addition to the dogs, officers confiscated the scales, medical supplies and equipment they described as being used to condition dogs for fighting. A source named in the warrant told police that the dogs were taken to North Carolina to fight and were shot if they didn't perform well. So far, no one has been charged. Source:http://www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp?S=4740563&nav=23ii        Mother & Son arrested on Dog Fighting Charges   LA                                                          Drug Raid Nets 135,000 in Cocaine, dogs seized   April 6,2006 State police say a Marrero mother and son have been booked on dozens of counts of dog-fighting and animal cruelty. 41-year-old Yolanda James and 24-year-old Mike James also face multiple drug charges. Troopers say a search of the mother's home turned up 13 scarred and damaged pit bulls, dog-fighting paraphernalia, two handguns and marijuana. Source:www.klfy.com                                       April 08, 2006 Drug raid nets $135,000 cocaine MAURICE RIVER TWP. -- More than 100 law enforcement officers conducted a pre-dawn raid at a residence on Route 49 Thursday that uncovered $135,000 worth of crack cocaine, cocaine and morphine pills, county Prosecutor Ronald J. Casella revealed Friday. The raid followed several months of investigation by county, state and federal agencies that led to the arrest of four Maurice River Township residents, including a corrections officer from Bayside's Ancora Unit, who were arraigned in Superior Court Thursday afternoon. A bunker approximately 11 feet underground, with dimensions of approximately 10 feet by 14 feet, was also discovered, and it appeared as though the bunker was utilized for the manufacturing and storage of crack cocaine, firearms and ammunition, according to a press release issued by Casella. Two drug presses utilized to manufacture cocaine, four weapons, more than 15,000 rounds of assorted caliber ammunition, drug paraphernalia and an undetermined amount of money was also found. Casella said Bruce G. Low Jr., 27, Bruce G. Low Sr., 49, corrections officer Terri A. Low, 49, and Saibrina Melendez, 25, showed no resistance during the raid Thursday morning, although Low Sr. had a fully loaded 357 Smith & Wesson handgun on his bed stand when police entered his residence. In addition to various drug charges, weapons offenses and child endangerment charges that have been brought against the group, additional charges are also pending in reference to a number of animals that were found on the property during the raid. Thirty-eight pit bulls used for fighting were seized by the Cumberland County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, along with an alligator and a parakeet, according to the prosecutor's office. Treadmills and paraphernalia utilized for training the dogs for fighting and drugs utilized to treat the dogs for pain and injury were also seized. Monica Shaud of the Cumberland County SPCA said that Low Jr., who the dogs were registered to, forfeited ownership of the dogs, and Municipal Court Judge John Casarow subsequently granted the SPCA custody of them in a hearing Friday afternoon. Shaud said Friday that the pit bulls were scheduled to be euthanized. "They are not adoptable in any shape or form," Shaud explained. "For any animal used in any type of blood sport, to put them out in society puts not only people but other animals in danger." Shaud said the SPCA would probably be holding the alligator until next Thursday, although it falls under state Fish and Game jurisdiction, because Fish and Game has no place to put it right now. She said alligators cannot be owned in the state of New Jersey Four other dogs, in addition to the parakeet, were also seized, but Shaud said those dogs were very well taken care of, and they were only seized because the SPCA was not sure who would be able to take care of the animals since everyone from the residence had been incarcerated. "The dogs inside the house were registered to Terri Low, and they were not pit bulls," Shaud said. "(Terri) made arrangements with her sister to take care of the animals." A trailer utilized by the Oakcrest High School Crew Team that had been reported stolen on Jan. 31 was also recovered during the raid. According to the press release, "Oakcrest Crew" was originally painted on the trailer, but after it had apparently been repainted, the trailer now reads "Hollywood Dream Landscaping." The four were charged as follows: Low Jr. did knowingly or purposely manufacture, distribute or dispense or possess with intent to manufacture, distribute or dispense cocaine, by being found in possession of approximately one pound of cocaine. He was also charged with knowingly or purposely obtaining or possessing cocaine, possession of a handgun during the commission of a controlled dangerous substance offense, use or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia to pack/process/prepare a CDS by being found in possession of a press/scales, and endangering the welfare of a 2-year-old child by being in the possession of a CDS and firearms. He was lodged in the county jail in lieu of $600,000 cash only bail. Low Sr. and Terri Low did knowingly or purposely manufacture, distribute or dispense or possess with intent to manufacture, distribute or dispense cocaine, by being found in possession of approximately one pound of cocaine. They were also charged with knowingly or purposely obtaining or possessing cocaine, possession of a handgun during the commission of a CDS offense, and endangering the welfare of a 6-year-old child and a 10-year-old child by being in possession of a CDS and firearms. Both were lodged in the county jail in lieu of $350,000 cash or bond bail. Terri Low has been suspended from her position with Bayside's Ancora Unit, a state Department of Corrections spokesman said Thursday. Saibrina Melendez was charged with possessing a handgun without first having obtained a permit to carry it, and endangering the welfare of a 2-year-old child by being in possession of a CDS and firearms. She was lodged in the county jail in lieu of $100,000 cash or bond bail. All four have opted to be represented by private council, but further court dates were not known at the time of this report. The raid was the result of a joint investigation between the Cumberland County Narcotics Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms and Millville Police Department, assisted by the New Jersey State Police, FBI, and Bridgeton and Vineland police departments. Source:www.nj.com

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