Dog-fighting - 22 dogs seized
Graham, WA (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Oct 3, 2009
County: Pierce
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Elijah Peters
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
A domestic violence call led to the discovery of what Pierce County sheriff's deputies said appears to be a training facility for fighting dogs at a home in Graham.
Elijah Peters, 37, was arrested Saturday on suspicion of threatening to shoot and kill his girlfriend during a fight at a Graham home.
Pierce County sheriff's Detective Ed Troyer said when deputies arrived, they found 22 pit bulls tied up in separate dog houses in the home's back yard, a treadmill fitted with a dog leash and makeshift wooden side panels and other dog training devices.
Troyer said the panels are to keep dogs on the treadmill during training.
According to arrest reports, several of the dogs showed evidence of severe scarring.
A search warrant to seize illegal dog training material was served at the residence.
Investigators also said they found 25 marijuana plants that Peters allegedly claimed were for medicinal purposes. Arrest reports revealed that medical paperwork was found at Peters' residence.
Peters was charged with felony harassment with bail set at $20,000.
The investigation into possible animal cruelty charges is continuing.
Case UpdatesA car-jacking suspect messed with the wrong vehicle Friday night in a Kirkland parking lot.
A pit bull rescued earlier from an illegal dog-fighting ring was sitting inside in the car - and that dog wasn't taking any more passengers.
The dog's foster mom, Amber Melena, explains what happened.
She says Victor the pit bull was due to be put down a few months ago after he and more than 20 other dogs were found living in horrific conditions - beaten, forced to fight and chained inside filthy kennels.
But a dedicated rescue group believed this dog could be saved and - after months of rehabilitation - placed him with Amber and her family.
On Friday night, Victor had a chance to return the favor in a grocery parking lot.
Amber says she stopped by the store on a routine shopping trip and brought 3-year-old Victor along for the ride.
"I opened the door like this and put the groceries in," she says.
"I was just reaching for my seatbelt, and right as I was turning to click it in, this door flew open. And he was just standing right there."
Amber found herself face-to-face with a possible car-jacker. The man spooked Victor, too - but the dog was quick to act.
"He turns around and lets out just this gigantic woof," says Amber. "And this man throws himself backwards, trips on himself and falls down."
Police later arrested the man. And thanks to Victor, Amber wasn't hurt.
She says Victor still bears the battle scars from being routinely beaten and forced to fight before he was saved last October from a dog-fighting ring in Graham.
"He's got tears inside his ears; his biggest one is the lip. This lip is supposed to be attached, not kind of poking out," Amber says.
Bullseye Dog Rescue and other shelter workers put the dogs through months of rehabilitation. Ultimately, most had to be put down.
"They didn't make it. They had some various behavioral problems ... because of the victims that they were, the cruelty they endured," says Lorrie Kalmbach of Bullseye Dog Rescue.
Victor was the exception - and Amber says he proved himself exceptional against the car-jacker.
She'd keep him if she could, but for now has agreed to be his foster mom until he can be placed.
"Bullseye has given him a second chance. I think he might have given me a second chance. He's definitely my hero," she says.
Victor and two other pit bulls named Hope and Phoenix have gone through months of rehabilitation and are ready and willing to be adopted into a good home.
Anyone interested in adoption can contact Bullseye Dog Rescue at www.bullseyerescue.org for more information. | Source: komonews.com - Mar 22, 2010
Update posted on Mar 22, 2010 - 5:59PM |
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