Westchester County police are investigating a possible dog-fighting ring in Mount Vernon. An anonymous tip led them to a home on 13th avenue, where they discovered five pit bulls and a Rottweiler living in filth.
Gladstone Dankin, 19, was arrested Friday and faces six counts of failure to provide sustenance to an animal and five counts of improperly sheltering a dog, all misdemeanors. He was also charged with owning the dogs without a license.
Police said they raided Dankin's house and found five pit bulls and a Rottweiler. One pit bull needed emergency treatment, and the others were taken to the Mount Vernon Animal Shelter.
Despite lacking evidence to charge Dankin with dog fighting, Police Commissioner David Chong said they found conditions consistent with such activity.
One of the dogs, dubbed "Lucky" had to be carried away and taken for emergency veterinary care. The other dogs were taken to the shelter, and their condition and temperament will be assessed.
"We'll see if they're salvageable," SPCA chief Kenneth Ross said. "Hopefully. You hope for the best." Case UpdatesGladstone Dankin and Mark Ogilvie will face animal cruelty charges for allegedly setting up a dog fighting pit in the basement of this home on South 13th Avenue in Mount Vernon.
Police raided the home for the second time this week. On Friday, they reportedly found a loaded handgun, 56 rounds of ammunition and six pit bulls, all of whom have been rescued.
Police say Ogilvie tried to block officers from entering his bedroom, and when they did, police say he released this pit bull, which bit an officer in the leg.
The police investigation into the dog fighting began earlier this month, when a blind pit bull named Floyd was found lying in a pool of his own blood after he apparently was used as bait in one of the violent fights.
A few days later, more than sixty cats, also believed to have been used as bait, were dropped off at a local shelter.
Twelve dogs in all have been rescued from this home this week, and Mount Vernon officials say they are working to stamp out the cruel and barbaric so-called 'sport' of dog fighting. | Source: 7Online.com - Aug 17, 2007 Update posted on Aug 19, 2007 - 4:57PM |
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