Dogfighting - 13 adult dogs, 7 puppies seized
McKean, PA (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Aug 16, 2003
County: McKean
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 2 files available
Alleged:
» Wayne Milton Vanluven, II - Convicted
» Keith Lamont Vanluven - Convicted
» Jermaine Lamont Hunter - Convicted
» Eric Von Gross - Convicted
» Dan Murphy - Dismissed
» John Eddie Thomas - Convicted
» Robert Eugene Hunter, Sr. - Convicted
» Eric Lee Hunt - Convicted
» Archie Lee James - Convicted
» James Duane Summers - Dismissed
Humans who take part in dogfighting are lower on the food chain than the dogs themselves.
Erie County District Attorney Bradley Foulk offered that opinion after a raid on a McKean Township home broke up a dogfight and led to the arrests of 10 people on felony charges of cruelty to animals and conspiracy to commit cruelty to animals.
"Just when you think you've seen it all, you encounter something like this,'' Foulk said Monday, referring to the raid at 7655 Millfair Road late Saturday.
What Foulk and investigators found in the rear of the home were 14 people near an illuminated wood-frame pit just after two pit bulls apparently had fought in the ring, said state police Cpl. Mark Zaleski, public information officer.
State police Sgt. Bill Ramey, criminal investigation section supervisor, said: "It's not the dogs you hear. They're not snarling. ... You hear what would sound like a large party.''
Ramey and about 25 other uniformed and undercover state police officers surprised the participants after authorities were tipped off by a confidential informant.
The location of the fights changed at least once, preventing investigators from breaking up the fights before they started, Zaleski said.
Authorities had the suspects under surveillance, but Ramey declined to say where.
Investigators seized 13 adult dogs, seven puppies and six chickens in the raid, including three adult pit bulls that were severely injured. One of the pit bulls was later euthanized.
All surviving animals are under the care of the Humane Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania, 418 W. 38th St., and must be kept in custody as evidence.
Fight-trained pit bulls typically cannot be adopted because their breeding and training make them too dangerous to release into society, said Karen Bukowski, Humane Society executive director.
The dogs could maim or kill people, other dogs and cats, and they probably will be humanely euthanized after the court case, she said.
"It's sad to see a dog so loyal to its owner treated in this fashion,'' Bukowski said.
Merle Wolfgang, the Humane Society's chief investigating officer, said this about the scene that she and police uncovered: "It's very disgusting, to be honest.''
Foulk had even stronger words.
"As far as I'm concerned, the people that raise fighting dogs, fight the dogs and participate in dogfighting are lower in the food chain than the fighting dogs are,'' Foulk said.
David Agresti, an assistant prosecutor, said that besides the three severely injured pit bulls, other pit bulls showed signs of past injuries from fighting.
Foulk said that dog handlers train the animals for fights by running them on treadmills. The handlers also tie a rawhide bait to a tree branch, which encourages the animals to leap and snatch the bait in their jaws, he said.
The pit bulls dangle from the tree for long periods, strengthening their jaws for the fights, he said.
Eight of the 10 defendants were still at the Erie County Prison on Monday, with bond set at $10,000 each.
They are Wayne Vanluven, 31, of Erie; Keith Vanluven, 25, of Fairview; Jermaine Hunter, 30, of McKean; and Cleveland residents Eric Gross, 46, Dan Murphy, 43, John Thomas, 38, Robert Hunter, 39, and Eric Hunt, 35.
Jermaine Hunter rented the home where police said the fights occurred.
The other two defendants, Archie James, 38, and James Summers, 40, both of Cleveland, were released from prison after each posted $10,000 bail.
Cruelty to animals is punishable by a maximum of seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine, plus restitution and court costs.
At least one other suspect is expected to be charged.
Foulk said these types of operations are tough to crack because the groups are secretive and "move from place to place'' to avoid detection.
Investigators hope to use this case to gain more information into how prevalent dogfighting might be in this region.
Thousands around the nation attend staged dogfights. American pit bull terriers used in most of these fights have been bred and trained for fighting and are unrelenting in their attempts to overwhelm the other dogs, according to the Web site of The Humane Society of the United States.
"With their extremely powerful jaws, they are able to inflict severe bruising, deep puncture wounds and broken bones,'' the Web site states.
A veterinarian at the scene treated the animals, but two of the pit bulls did not respond to treatment and were taken to the Pet Emergency Center, 429 W. 38th St., Bukowski said.
One is recovering, but the other never responded to treatment and had to be euthanized Monday at another veterinary hospital, Bukowski said. The animal suffered "major bite wounds'' from a fight, including a split tongue, she said.
The pit bulls suffered bite marks to the legs, face, ears, neck and front part of the body, she said.
Among the animals confiscated were a beagle and a mixed husky and her litter of seven puppies, Bukowski said. Only the pit bulls were involved in the fighting.
Foulk would not comment on a report that the dogs were baited with puppies and chickens. He said he doesn't know why puppies and chickens were at the site. References« PA State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in McKean County, PA
|
