Dog-fighting - 14 seized, 3 found dead
Ozark, AL (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Aug 25, 2005
County: Dale

Charges: Felony Non-CTA
Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Timothy McLeod

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

When the Ozark Police Department recovered around $2,000 worth of cocaine and marijuana on Aug 25, they also discovered and busted up a dog fighting arena. Timothy McLeod of Ozark was arrested on 14 counts of dog fighting charges for training and fighting dogs in his backyard, which is a felony.

He was also charged for drug-related crimes.

McLeod is currently in the Dale County Jail with no bond.

All of the dogs were severely injured and three dog carcasses were also found. Some of the pit bulls were sleeping in barrels. One was chained so close to a tree he could not reach his water dish.

Ozark police said that this is the first time in nearly a decade that they have broken up a dog fighting arena.

A local animal hospital is planning to contact the Pit Bull Rescue Organization in hopes of finding good homes for the dogs.

McLeod could be facing one to ten years in jail for each dog fighting charge.

It could be the tip of an ice burg. An investigation is being conducted to find out.

"We're going to try to hold everyone involved responsible for this," Adams said. "We need help from the neighborhood to find out who is involved."

It's also a felony for any person to even be present for such an event, but Adams is willing to work with those who come forward willingly.

"The people who were witnesses need to come forward before we find out they were there," Adams said.

However, dog owners who used their dog in a fight will be prosecuted.

McCleod's home is positioned close to other residences on the street, leaving investigators skeptical that others in the neighborhood are clueless to what was happening in his backyard.

A small square pin is where investigators believe the fights occurred. The skeletal remains were found behind it.

It's difficult to tell how old the dogs are or how long they've been fighting. But Dr. Christa Bragg is hoping to nurture them back to health so they can eventually be readopted through a pit bull rescue group.

"There is always a danger," Bragg said, referring to the fight mentality that has been drilled into the animals. "They fought. They'll have to go to responsible owners."

The dogs had been living in inadequate conditions, with only minimal water and food available.

In fact, to make the dogs more aggressive, they would be denied food.

But despite their lives until now, the dogs have been surprisingly gentle, Bragg said. None of the dogs will be euthanized. Nine of them are currently at Andrews Avenue Animal Hospital; the other younger ones are at the Ozark City Pound.

Case Updates

References

• - Aug 26, 2005

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