Dog-fighting suspected - 16 dogs surrendered
Bardstown, KY (US)Incident Date: Thursday, May 14, 2009
County: Nelson
Disposition: Not Charged
Abuser names unreleased
Dog fighting is a gruesome crime and one of the hardest on police when it comes to making an arrest. The animals are trained to kill. If they fail, they lose their lives.
Allegations of dog fighting in Louisville are being investigated by Metro Police after a grisly find of a mutilated Rottweiler discarded in a trash can in Shelby Park. Now, officials in another Kentuckiana community believe the deadly sport is taking place there.
After our story aired, Jon Ryan with Nelson County Animal Control alerted WAVE 3 that dog fighting may be happening in his community.
But Ryan says they have a big barrier in their way.
"I was angry," said Ryan. "I don't know why somebody would let dogs get in this kind of condition."
Ryan says he found 16 pit bulls in a home on Pottershop Road with obvious signs of trauma.
"Several of them had scars on their face and on their body," Ryan said. "They were very friendly to pet as a person, but once the dogs got face to face with one another they were ready to attack one another."
Ryan says he was tipped off by neighbors who complained about dogs constantly barking.
"We don't usually pick up that many at one time. 16 is a large number. That's the first case this year where we'd heard that many at one residence," said Ryan, who found the dogs in the woods.
"I don't see how people get satisfaction out of watching a dog fight another one," Ryan said. "Try to find another sport. What happened to basketball or baseball?"
While Ryan suspects the pit bulls were used for dog fighting, he can't prove it. He says that is the problem with cases like this. "Unless you catch them in the act, it's almost impossible to charge someone with fighting dogs."
Ryan believes dog fighting is happening in Nelson County. He just needs help catching it.
"If any people in Nelson County, if they suspect dog fighting or dog hoarding, around their residence, make sure and give us a call or contact the local sheriff's office," said Ryan.
In this case, the owner of the animals signed his dogs over to animal control. No charges are filed at this time.
If you live in Nelson County and think dog fighting may be going on in your neighborhood, call the sheriff's office at 502-348-3211 or animal control at 502-348-1865. References |
