Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Conspiracy to commit dog fighting, 20 dogs seized

Conspiracy to commit dog fighting, 20 dogs seized
Macon, GA (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Aug 5, 2005
County: Bibb
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged
Charges: Felony CTA

Alleged: Michael Dawn Montgomery, Jr.

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Case ID: 5248

Classification: Fighting, Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: dog (pit-bull)

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After finding 20 pit bulls at a Log Cabin Drive home, Macon police charged a man with 20 counts of animal cruelty and 20 counts of conspiracy to commit dog fighting. Michael Dawn Montgomery Jr., 36, was arrested after Macon police animal control officers went to his house at 3855 Log Cabin Drive at about 11 a.m. on Aug 5 on a tip, said Macon police officer Richard Wolverton.

He said he saw a dog on a treadmill in the fenced-in yard. Wolverton said the dogs were being trained to fight other dogs. Other dogs were in small cages, and had little water, Wolverton said.

The dogs were taken to the Macon city pound, Wolverton said.

Case Updates

An accused dog fighter could face years in prison, but his dogs have already received a death sentence.

Macon police animal control euthanized 19 pit bulls late Friday night that had been confiscated earlier in the day from the home of Michael Dawn Montgomery Jr., 3855 Log Cabin Drive, said Sgt. Lee Mock, animal control supervisor.

Saturday, Montgomery appeared before Magistrate Judge John Watts at the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center. In addition to the 19 counts of cruelty to animals and 19 counts of conspiracy to commit dog fighting filed against Montgomery, Mock called for an additional felony charge of aggravated cruelty to animals.

One of the dogs was in great pain because his left leg had been gnawed off to the first joint of the bone, which prompted the aggravated cruelty felony, Mock said. There were signs of infection and no evidence the wound had any medical attention, Mock said.

By law, the dogs could not be adopted and Mock received a court order Friday night authorizing the euthanization of all the animals, including four puppies yet to be weaned, he said.

The animals were friendly and affectionate to officers, but instantly changed demeanor in the presence of another dog, Mock said.

"They know as soon as they see each other, it's a kill," Mock said.

In Montgomery's back yard, numerous dogs were chained in an open field as officers arrived Friday morning.

Mock said he heard what he thought was a huge fan, but discovered it was a pit bull chained to a treadmill and running a stuffed animal just out of its reach. "When he got off that treadmill, he attacked it and there was stuffing everywhere," Mock said.

All of the dogs had battle scars from an illegal sport Mock said he equates to ancient gladiators' combat.

Money wagered at dog fights can reach millions of dollars in contests featuring the canine equivalent of heavyweight champs like Mike Tyson, he said.

The dogs were denied water to keep them in a state of dehydration that slows blood loss and keeps them in the ring longer, Mock said.

One of the dogs, who weighed about 40 pounds, had about 70 pounds of chains on it at the time of the arrest, Mock said.

The animals ranged in age from a few weeks old to adult dogs, he said.

"Even the old and decrepit serve a purpose (to fighters). They're now bait," Mock said. "From birth to death, there's violence."

Watts set Montgomery's bond at $25,000.

"I'm setting this bond under the condition you're not to own, possess or have any contact with any animals while you're under this bond," Watts told Montgomery.

He had not posted bond as of press time Saturday night.

Montgomery had not yet hired legal counsel, he told the judge, who discussed the possibility of Montgomery securing a public defender to handle the case.

Source: Macon.Com - Aug 7, 2006
Update posted on Nov 22, 2006 - 1:34PM

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Macon Telegraph - Aug 6, 2005

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Conspiracy to commit dog fighting, 20 dogs seizedMacon, GA (US)

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Conspiracy to commit dog fighting, 20 dogs seized
Macon, GA (US)