Hog-dog fighting Punta Gorda, FL (US) Incident Date: Sunday, Nov 2, 2003 County: Charlotte Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: Eddie Platt

Case ID: 2296 Classification: Fighting Animal: pig, dog (pit-bull) View more cases in FL (US) Login to Watch this Case

Eddie Platt was arrested for charges of cruelty to animals on Jan 15, 2004.  Platt is susupected of training dogs to hog hunt.  While hog hunting is legal in Florida, however, torturing animals is.

On November 2, 2003, officers did a surveillance on a wooded area near U.S. 41 and Jones Loop Road, south of Punta Gorda.  On October 23, officers reportedly had found a pen made of fencing and metal, and dog cages.  At 3:30 p.m., on November 2, officers noted dogs being released into the pen with hogs.  Taping continued for more than an hour.

Officers converged on the area.  Deputies reportedly found feral hogs and noted numerous fresh injuries to their heads.  They also reported that the hogs were so exhausted that they could not stand up.

Platt had videotaped the activity, a common practice.  People watch the dogs in action and rate them on their killing ability.  The video showed multiple dogs attacking hogs, and in some cases a feral hog being held to the ground while the dogs were encouraged to attack.  In all cases, the dogs were shown biting and chewing on the hogs' heads, ears, faces, and legs. 

The director of animal control noted, "This hog's ears been completely torn from its body.  This hog here also you notice the flies around the cuts on his ears where his ears are torn up.  This hog is so tired he can't even get up." 

A doctor associated with Charlotte County Animal Control watched the videotape.  He noted that while none of the wounds appeared life-threatening, some of the hogs should have received medical treatment.  The doctor's professional opinion was that repeated attacking of animals constitued animal cruelty.

"The problem we had with it," reported one official, "is the pigs and the dogs are inside of a pen, the hog itself had no way of escaping the attack.

Eddie Platt was arrested and was booked into the Charlotte County Jail and held on a $5,000 bond, which he posted.

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References

	NBC2
	The Sun Herald  302

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