Two teenage brothers were accused on July 2 of dog fighting and cruelty to animals.
Their arrests come after weeks of investigation, but the animal cruelty problems raised by the family have gone on for years, said Marti Ryan, a spokeswoman for Hillsborough County Animal Services.
�Animal Services has been dealing with this family for generations on a variety of activities � including dogfighting and other things,� she said.
Four pit bulls were euthanized because of injuries, Ryan said.
On multiple occasions from June 18 through June 20, an arrest report said, 18-year-old Chris Nickthanal Crist fought two or more of his dogs for about 5 to 10 minutes, chaining one to a tree and setting another loose, an arrest report shows.
His brother, 19-year-old Eric Eugene Crist Jr., allowed his brother to fight dogs and watched the dogs fight and injure each other, according to the report.
The four pit bulls were discovered Monday at 11914 Leroy Sheppard Road without sufficient food, water or protection from the elements.
Chris Crist faces four felony counts of fighting animals and three of cruelty to animals, along with a misdemeanor count of improper confinement of animals. Eric Crist faces two felony counts of cruelty to animals and two of attending an animal fight, along with a misdemeanor count of improper confinement of animals. They remain in Orient Road Jail on $14,500 bail and $8,500 bail, respectively. Case UpdatesTwo brothers accused of dog-fighting appeared in court in Hillsborough County on September 6, 2007.
Chris and Eric Christ are accused of chaining one of their dogs to a tree and setting another loose to attack it on multiple occassions between June 18 and June 20, according to reports.
�Animal Services has been dealing with this family for generations on a variety of activities � including dogfighting and other things,� said Marti Ryan, a spokeswoman for Hillsborough County Animal Services.
The two brothers are scheduled for trial on November 5 at 8:00 a.m. | Source: Case # 07-CF-013557 and 559 Update posted on Sep 10, 2007 - 1:30PM |
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