Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Dog-fighting - 14 dogs seized

Dog-fighting - 14 dogs seized
Augusta, GA (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007
County: Richmond
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged
Charges: Misdemeanor

Alleged: Carlton Jones, Jr.

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Case ID: 12211

Classification: Fighting

Animal: dog (pit-bull)

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Fourteen dogs were rescued from two Augusta neighborhoods on Wednesday. Police say the dogs were possibly involved in dogfighting.

Now, each one lives in a kennel at the Richmond County Animal Shelter.

"It's just sad and a shame that they're going to be pretty much facing a death sentence because of a human being," said an undercover Animal Control Officer.

The dogs have all the signs of being involved in fighting, including old wounds and bites on the chest and legs. Investigators also found a treadmill and chains at the dogs' rescue site.

Diane Downs, Director of the Richmond County Animal Shelter, says the dogs are people-friendly but cannot be adopted.

"The fighting alone makes them aggressive toward other dogs and they would be a danger in the community," said Downs.

An animal control officer says it's not fair to animals.

"No animal ever sent a post card to a human being saying, 'Hey, will you become my owner and mistreat me and beat me?' and dogs deserve better and the people who did this deserve to be punished to the max," the officer said.

According to the Director, the dogs will remain in the shelter until the investigation is completed, but "if they show the slightest bit of dog aggression that spells euthanization."

Carlton Jones, Jr. was arrested and put in jail Thursday on one count of animal cruelty in connection with the case. Investigators say more arrests may be made.

Case Updates

Members of the Richmond County crime suppression team were patrolling the area when they saw three dogs chained to a tree in the 1100 block of Kent Street. Agatha Flournoy, 53, who lives in the home, was arrested on an outstanding warrant. Across the street, police discovered three people living in an abandoned home without power or water. Inside, deputies found a shotgun and cocaine. Those inside were charged with disorderly conduct and issued bench warrants.

Police noticed that a power line had been strung from the abandoned house to yet another home on Kent Street, where they found six more pit bulls tied to separate trees and a treadmill device that was modified for use with the animals.

Police also arrested David Gibson, Jr., 23, and James Fitzgerald Hicks, 43, both on disorderly conduct charges; and Anthony Way, 49, and Alvin Lee Haynes, 19, on outstanding warrants.

The Kent Street investigation ultimately led police to a residence in the 1600 block of Luckey Street, where five more pit bulls were recovered. The animals appeared to have suffered "cruel and inhumane treatment and injuries consistent with dogfighting," Gay said.

Source: Online Athens - Aug 31, 2007
Update posted on Aug 31, 2007 - 5:41PM

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Richmond County deputies have arrested and charged Carlton Jones Jr. with one count of animal cruelty. Jones owns a house on Kent Street where several dogs were found yesterday.

That house is one of three where animals were found. News 12 spoke exclusively with the owner of one of the other homes.

Kent Street was where the possible training facility was. Luckey Street was where the dogfighting might have actually taken place. But the owner of the Luckey Street home says that's not true.

"There is no dogfighting going on here," said the mother of one, who says she has her son to think about and doesn't want her identity revealed.

"I'm at work, all of a sudden I get a call there are cameras in front of the house saying there's dogfighting going on," she said.

Police took five dogs from her home yesterday.

"Is there a problem with having dogs? You can't have dogs?" she said.

We asked her if she bred dogs.

"Breed the dogs, take care of them," she said.

The owner told us the dogs ate, slept, and had puppies inside her shed, but she says they never fought.

"Why would you fight dogs that are having puppies that you're constantly having to take care of?" she asked.

The bigger question: why breed pit bulls?

"Just to have puppies...kids like puppies."

Despite that, she's being investigated for possible animal cruelty and dogfighting.

"Why somebody fight dogs in a place where they stay when Michael Vick just got caught fighting dogs? Why?" she asked.

As far as Carlton Jones' animal cruelty charge, that's a misdemeanor. He'll go before a judge. The maximum he can be fined is $5000.

Source: WRDW - Aug 30, 2007
Update posted on Aug 31, 2007 - 1:57PM

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WRDW - Aug 30, 2007

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Dog-fighting - 14 dogs seizedAugusta, GA (US)

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Dog-fighting - 14 dogs seized
Augusta, GA (US)