34 Pitbulls Seized from Fighting Breeding Compound
Rowland, NC (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Jun 15, 2004
County: Robeson

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged:
» Paul Laurent
» Michael Lee Freeman
» Patty Freeman

Animal cruelty investigators seized 34 pit bulls from what they say appears to be a 10 acre breeding compound used to raise fighting dogs.

Paul Laurent was breeding the animals to fight, said Katherine Floyd, Robeson County's animal cruelty investigator.

"He trains them and sells them for fighting," Floyd said. "We had five or six dogs with puncture wounds that showed they've fought before."

Paul Laurent, 36, was charged Thursday 36 counts of failure to vaccinate for rabies and 34 counts of animal cruelty. The charges are misdemeanors.
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Laurent. a French citizen in the United States illegally, was released on $200 bond.

"I'd like to see him in jail soon, because there's a real threat of him running since he's an illegal," Floyd said.

Laurent and his girlfriend had loaded two pit bulls into a car and were about leave when Floyd and other animal cruelty officers arrived Wednesday morning. Laurent's girlfriend, who was not identified, was not charged.

The dogs were healthy and well fed, Floyd said. Two mastiffs also were seized from the property.

Animal control officials first went to the compound, first seizing three pit bulls, steroids, the performance-enhancing supplement creatin and syringes, Floyd said. They returned Wednesday and seized 31 pit bulls.

Laurent stated he came to the United States so he could breed them freely. He said the French government killed his pit bull when he refused to sterilize it.

The dogs were sold on the internet for between $500 and $1,000.

Laurent denied that he raised fighting dogs.

"All my dogs have names and they're being trained for dog shows and for sale," he said Wednesday. "They all love me."

Animal control officers took the dogs to the Robeson County animal shelter in St. Pauls.

References

« NC State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Robeson County, NC

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