Dog-fighting suspected, eight dogs seized Thibodaux, LA (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Dec 10, 2008 County: Lafourche
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: » Ernest Harvey » Nicolas Brown » Melvin Poston
When Thibodaux Police responded to a call about two loose dogs, two men ended up being cited for animal cruelty and for allowing their dogs to roam the streets, according to Det. Treverse Johnson from Thibodaux Police.
Officers found two pit bulls in the 600 block of Locust Street roaming the street, and, according to a statement from police, "they displayed injuries consistent with dog fighting." The dogs did not have adequate food, shelter and water, police said.
As the police were investigating, the owners, Ernest Harvey, 23, Nicolas Brown, 23, and Melvin Poston, 30, arrived at the scene, police said. Each were cited for animal cruelty and allowing the dogs to roam the streets.
Det. Johnson said the dogs were seized by police and taken to Lafourche Parish Animal Shelter, but could not confirm if they had been destroyed.
A spokesman for the animal shelter said eight dogs were picked at the scene and taken to the shelter. The dogs will be held for at least 15 days, and it had not been determined whether the dogs will be destroyed or returned to the owners, which depends on whether charges are dropped, but added that housing the dogs was a "tremendous" challenge because the space that the dogs need. The dogs had to be placed in separate kennels.
"They're not friendly animals," said Shelly Toups, health manager for the shelter.
According to a report, the dogs began fighting after police officers arrived on the scene. References |