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An injured dog sits in a Genesee County Animal Control van
during an investigation into a suspected dog fighting ring by animal control
and the Genesee County Sheriff Department at a house on East Bishop Avenue in
Flint on Monday. Authorities found five dogs at the scene. Three have been
euthanized
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On Monday, April 9, 2012, the Genesee County Sheriff’s
Department and Animal Control responded to 626 E. Bishop in Flint, Michigan.
They found what was believed to be a bait dog in the home’s driveway. The
animal was reported to have extensive injuries and could hardly stand up. Bait
dogs are used to train dogs to fight. In one article that I read, the bait dog
was a chocolate lab and it was later discovered that this animal had received
the most extensive injuries, ranging from deep, severe wounds, multiple fractures
and one injury that could only have been brought about by a human; having a
blunt object shoved into his rectum. In the video of the seizure, the chocolate
lab is unable to stand on his own and appears ready to die. His face is
heart-breaking. Four other dogs have visible injuries; including cuts, bite
marks, and a broken leg.
The home’s garage floor was said to have been covered in
animal faeces and fresh patches of blood. A soiled mattress had been used as
the fighting arena and fresh blood covered a dog cage. Authorities believe that
the ringleader is a 14 year old boy who has been questioned. Sheriff Pickell
said the boy was currently on a 180-day minimum suspension from school and that
he had been kicked out of school at least 10 times in the past.
On Wednesday, April 11, 2012, Sheriff Pickell declared,
"What we've got here is a serious dog fighting group." He made that
statement as dogs were seized from another home in Flint, MI on the city's
north side. This came two days after the five dogs were seized on Monday, April
9th from a home (626 E. Bishop) that was three doors down the block. Sheriff
Pickell says those dogs seized on Monday were tortured and three of them had to
be euthanized, while two others will be put up for adoption. The dogs seized on
Wednesday came from the grandmother’s home. “One of the dogs that we brought
out appeared to be nursing and our first impulse is to believe that they may be
breeding these dogs,” Sheriff Pickell said.
According to Sheriff Pickell, the 14 year old boy was
believed to be operating the ring in a garage behind his mother’s home. His
mother was arrested Wednesday on unrelated warrants. The boy was released after
hours of questioning, but the case is still under investigation as there could
be more suspects and more dogs involved.
On Thursday, April 12, 2012, six of the seven dogs seized
were to be returned to their owners because authorities said they don’t have
enough evidence to hold them.
I have pieced together the above story from several different
news sources in the Flint, MI area, in an effort to make the story as concise
as possible. The following link is very difficult to read due to the graphic
nature of the contents, but I urge you to do so in hopes that you will become
as outraged, saddened, and horrified as I was upon discovering the gory
details. http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2012/04/vet_releases_gory_report_in_do.html (Read story
below article)
It is my hope that justice will be served in honour of these
horribly abused animals and that measures will be taken to prevent the same
from happening to those animals that were returned. The person/s who
perpetrated these acts was a sadist and they do not deserve to be walking
around free. Many reputable studies have clearly shown the connection between
animal torturers and serial killers. If a 14 year old is responsible, then I
hope he is tried as an adult. He is clearly very disturbed and needs to be
incarcerated, along with those who were supposed to be responsible for him. Dog
fighting, as one investigator put it, “is one-stop shopping for law
enforcement” because it almost always involves illegal weapons, drugs,
gambling, and is linked to many other crimes.
Animals have no voice, but we do. If we combine our
collective voices, we will be heard loudly and clearly. Please sign this
petition and respectfully ask Mr. David Leyton, the Prosecuting Attorney for
Genesee County to see that this case is fully investigated and that any guilty
parties are prosecuted to the fullest extent. Mr. Leyton can be reached at: 900
South Saginaw Street Flint, MI 48502 (810) 257-3210.
Here is the
story
FLINT,
MI --
Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell said a "gory report" by the
county veterinarian showed that animals seized from a suspected dog fighting
ring lived a violent life.
"It appears that torture is also an issue
here," Pickell said.
Five dogs were seized Monday from a home on East Bishop Avenue on Flint's north side after authorities found a "bait dog," or a dog used to train other fighting dogs, in the home's driveway.
Three of the animals, including the bait dog, have since been euthanized.
One of the animals, a tan and white pit bull, had fresh bite wounds on both of its ears as well as deep bite wounds into its mouth, Pickell said. The animal also had three fractured ribs, which Pickell said is evidence the dog had been tortured and kicked.
A second pit bull had a fractured tibia that occurred more than three days ago.
The bait dog, a chocolate Labrador retriever, had the most extensive injuries, Pickell said.
The Lab had bite wounds throughout its body, with deep, severe wounds on its front legs. It also had a deep laceration along its shoulder, which was bleeding, and an open compound fracture of its humerus.
The base of the Lab's tail had multiple fractures that likely were inflicted by the other dogs biting and pulling the animal, Pickell said.
One injury on the Lab, however, was likely caused by human contact.
Pickell said an injury revealed that the animal was likely the victim of blunt force trauma when a foreign object was inserted into its rectum.
Genesee County Animal Control Chief Officer Walt Rodabaugh said Tuesday that two of the animals were unable to stand up and that the injuries the bait dog received were "just brutal."
Pickell said many of the injuries the dogs received are typically associated with dog fighting.
"Dog fight injuries typically occur on the front legs and face from sparring," Pickell said.
The other two dogs that were seized Monday will likely be put up for adoption, Pickell said.
Authorities also seized five dogs and two puppies and the mother of a 14-year-old suspected of being involved with the dog fighting ring was taken in to custody on an unrelated warrant on Wednesday.
Pickell said his office is working to obtain warrants as its investigation continues.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office at 810-257-3407.
Gary Ridley can be reached at 810-280-9516. You can also follow him on Twitter @GaryRidley or on Facebook.
Five dogs were seized Monday from a home on East Bishop Avenue on Flint's north side after authorities found a "bait dog," or a dog used to train other fighting dogs, in the home's driveway.
Three of the animals, including the bait dog, have since been euthanized.
One of the animals, a tan and white pit bull, had fresh bite wounds on both of its ears as well as deep bite wounds into its mouth, Pickell said. The animal also had three fractured ribs, which Pickell said is evidence the dog had been tortured and kicked.
A second pit bull had a fractured tibia that occurred more than three days ago.
The bait dog, a chocolate Labrador retriever, had the most extensive injuries, Pickell said.
The Lab had bite wounds throughout its body, with deep, severe wounds on its front legs. It also had a deep laceration along its shoulder, which was bleeding, and an open compound fracture of its humerus.
The base of the Lab's tail had multiple fractures that likely were inflicted by the other dogs biting and pulling the animal, Pickell said.
One injury on the Lab, however, was likely caused by human contact.
Pickell said an injury revealed that the animal was likely the victim of blunt force trauma when a foreign object was inserted into its rectum.
Genesee County Animal Control Chief Officer Walt Rodabaugh said Tuesday that two of the animals were unable to stand up and that the injuries the bait dog received were "just brutal."
Pickell said many of the injuries the dogs received are typically associated with dog fighting.
"Dog fight injuries typically occur on the front legs and face from sparring," Pickell said.
The other two dogs that were seized Monday will likely be put up for adoption, Pickell said.
Authorities also seized five dogs and two puppies and the mother of a 14-year-old suspected of being involved with the dog fighting ring was taken in to custody on an unrelated warrant on Wednesday.
Pickell said his office is working to obtain warrants as its investigation continues.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office at 810-257-3407.
Gary Ridley can be reached at 810-280-9516. You can also follow him on Twitter @GaryRidley or on Facebook.
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