Dog-fighting - 26 dogs seized Olustee, FL (US) Incident Date: Wednesday, Nov 30, 2005 County: Baker Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: Carlos Ford

Case ID: 6434 Classification: Fighting Animal: dog (pit-bull) View more cases in FL (US) Login to Watch this Case

Two days after 26 abused and neglected dogs were retrieved from an abandoned house in Olustee, someone broke into the county�s animal control facility and stole 11 of them.

Most, if not all, were pit bulls, apparently trained to fight.

One of the dogs had several lacerations on its legs and a five-inch hole in its hip. Many others were so malnourished that officers could see their ribs and hip bones protruding.

Five dogs had weights tied to their necks, preventing them from lifting their heads.

Deputy Thomas Dyal, who met the county�s animal control officer Georgia Monfort at the property November 30, also saw �a contraption that was made to tie two separate dogs around the neck while they fought.�

In addition, they found a raccoon in a cage at the end of a treadmill where the dogs would be chained and made to run as though chasing the animal. Ms. Monfort discovered the dogs while responding to a complaint about a bulldog running loose, attacking other dogs in the neighborhood.

A man who lives near the house on Cason Road told police that Carlos Ford owns the dogs.

Rufus Dixon said Mr. Ford, 31, would come by the property each week to feed and walk the dogs.

When officers went there, however, most of the dogs had no food or water.

Police were unable to immediately contact Mr. Ford, who lives in Macclenny but works in Starke as a hair stylist, but identified him as a suspect and filed 15 counts of animal cruelty against him with the state attorney�s office.

Chief Investigator Chuck Brannan said Tuesday there are two or three other potential suspects.

All those contacted by police denied involvement.

Two days after the dogs were confiscated, Christina Thomas arrived for work at the animal control kennels and found the gate had been knocked down, apparently by a truck.

Once inside, burglars cut a fence to gain access to the dogs. They used carriers to take 11 dogs out a door on the west end of the building and load them into the vehicle.

Ms. Thomas told police that when she was transporting the dogs from Olustee, she was followed by a male with dreadlocks and gold teeth, and driving a burgundy and tan Ford Bronco.

Another man with dreads and gold teeth came to the facility asking about one of the dogs, a female bulldog. He told Ms. Thomas his name was Earl.

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References

Baker County Press - Dec 8, 2005

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