Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Dog-fight training

Dog-fight training
University Park, IL (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Mar 9, 2006
County: Cook
Local Map: available
Disposition: Not Charged

Persons of Interest:
» Donald Hudgins
» Katherine Hudgins
» Ramo J Curtis

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Case ID: 7625

Classification: Fighting

Animal: dog (pit-bull), chicken, reptile

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Drugs or alcohol involved

Authorities say 12 pit bulls, marijuana, cocaine and an alligator-like reptile were found during a search of a Will County home that may have been a dog fighting training center.

The Will County sheriff's office says two people who lived at the University Park area home and a Chicago man were charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver after the March 9 afternoon raid.

Authorities conducted the search after they received a tip during a traffic stop that drugs were being sold at the home.

Police confiscated more than a kilogram of marijuana, about 35 marijuana plants, more than 100 grams of cocaine, cash, drug equipment, a five-pound caiman and a chicken.

Although police suspect the dogs were being trained to fight, there was no evidence of organized dog fighting at the home. None of the pit bulls appeared to be injured.

Case Updates

Police suspect a center for training fighting dogs was operating at a Will County home where 12 pit bulls and a five-pound caiman -- a South American crocodile-like reptile -- were seized during a drug bust, officials said. "You know how boxers have training facilities with treadmills, weights, etc.?" said Pat Barry, a spokesman for the Will County sheriff's office. "This was the same, but for dogs."

Donald Hudgins, 38, and Katherine Hudgins, 39, who lived in the home, and Ramo J. Curtis, 54, of Chicago, were charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver in the raid of the home at 28541 S. Kedzie south of University Park.

Police confiscated more than a kilogram of marijuana, about 35 marijuana plants, more than 100 grams of cocaine, $1,613 in cash, drug equipment and a chicken, Barry said. "This is fairly uncommon," said Dr. Leroy Schild, administrator of the Will County Animal Control Department. "Maybe a couple of times a year we encounter suspicions of fighting dogs. There have been suspicions about this place."

Donald Hudgins is a felon who served two years' probation for a 1998 gun conviction in Cook County, officials said. When an officer stopped his car and smelled marijuana, Hudgins admitted he was carrying a gun and was charged with unlawful use of a weapon. In 1987, he was convicted of possession of a controlled substance, records show.

The Will County bust came after police received a tip from a motorist during a traffic stop that drugs were being sold at the Hudgins' home, Barry said. Sheriff's officers and police from New Lenox, Lockport, the Will County Forest Preserve, Romeoville, Matteson and Sauk Village executed a search warrant.

Although police suspect the dogs were being trained to fight, there was no evidence of organized dog fighting at the home, Barry said. None of the dogs appeared to be injured, he said. Authorities said they expect to file additional charges in connection with the dogs.

Source: Chicago Sun Times - March 11, 2006
Update posted on Jun 4, 2006 - 3:50PM

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CBS News - March 11, 2006

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Dog-fight trainingUniversity Park, IL (US)

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Dog-fight training
University Park, IL (US)