Dog-fighting - 23 dogs seized Lakeland, FL (US) Incident Date: Sunday, Jul 31, 2005 County: Polk Local Map: available Disposition: Convicted Charges: Felony CTA Abuser/Suspect: Gregory Powe Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Case ID: 5251 Classification: Fighting Animal: dog (pit-bull) View more cases in FL (US) Login to Watch this Case

A Lakeland man is being investigated in a case of animal fighting after 23 pit bulls and an apparent pit bull dogfighting arena were found at his home, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. All 23 dogs, some with scars and serious injuries, were found at the home of 33-year-old Gregory Powe on 1210 Pinebend Drive in North Lakeland on July 31.

Sheriff's deputies went to that address, where they found four suspects unloading brand-new tires off a stolen tractor-trailer, according to sheriff's spokeswoman Michal Shanley. While there, they noticed in the back yard of the residence there were more than 20 pit bull-type dogs chained up, some in areas where there were high levels of water.

Detectives from the agricultural crimes unit were called to the scene. They found 23 dogs, some with scars and injuries consistent with fighting. They also found a fighting pit, 16 feet by 16 feet, with 30-inch-high sides.

At Powe's residence, detectives found medication for cuts, injuries and infections, several syringes suspected of being used to administer medication, and magazines related to dog fighting, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Polk County detectives met up with Powe in Hillsborough County on Wednesday, where he was being held on charges of animal fighting there, according to Shanley. Powe will remain in the Hillsborough County jail awaiting sentencing there before he is transported to Polk County to face charges here.

Animal fighting is a felony charge.

The dogs were taken to the Polk County animal shelter, where they are being kept in separate cages.

They're friendly to people, greeting visitors with wagging tails, but they are violently hostile to other dogs. When a sheriff's employee took a scarred male pit bull out of his cage Friday afternoon, all of the other dogs went wild, pawing at their cage doors and barking in rage.

There was no fur left on the male pit bull's snout; it was a mass of thick pink scar tissue and scabs. Big chunks of flesh were missing from his lips, which is common in dogs who have been fighting, according to Donna Seiler, a Polk County animal enforcement officer.

The dogs will be kept at the Polk County Animal Shelter until a court hearing is held to determine who will get custody of them.

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References

	The Ledger - Aug 7, 2005
	The Ledger - Aug 6, 2005

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