An Overlook, PA man, David Nigro, 19, is under arrested and charged with 19 counts of animal cruelty as well as drug and weapon charges after authorities were called to a home in the 900 block of Wynnewood Road about a dead dog.

Police found 18 pitbulls including puppies, one dead pitbull that had apparently been killed by its cage mates as well as drugs and guns that included assault weapons and ammo.

“In these cages, there are just dirt floors literally covered in inches of feces and urine. Ans the dogs are covered in feces and urine. Covered in parasites, ticks, and fleas,” says George Bengal, director of investigations at the Pennsylvania SPCA.

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Update 6/8/09 – Juveniles Arrested in Pitbull Burning in Baltimore – VIDEO

Again a pitbull is the victim of unbelievable cruelty, this time in Baltimore.  The little girl that rescuers named Phoenix, has burns over almost 100% of her body and the worry of infection is extreme.  Someone doused her with gasoline then set her on fire Wednesday around noon in the 1600 block of Presbury St.  Initially taken to the Swan Harbor Animal Hospital, she was transferred to Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) where the hope is that she will survive.

Found in flames, screaming in pain as bystanders looked on, a Baltimore Police officer, Syreeta Teel, used a sweater to douse the flames and called for help.

“This was one of the most cruel things I’ve ever seen. It hurt me to my heart,” said Baltimore city police Officer Syreeta Teel.

“We’re going to do quite a bit of prayer, a lot of antibiotics, a lot of bandage changes. Just sometimes, the body just kind of goes into shutdown, really,” said veterinarian Dr. Marcella Bonner.

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Yes, it’s true, this POS is outta prison and on home release. Wow, those poor tortured, abused and killed dogs really got justice, didn’t they? NOT! He did no time for animal abuse! This piece of crap did a measly 23 months for the gambling, not animal abuse. There was no justice for the dogs he killed! And now it looks like he is pandering his notoriety to Wayne Pacelle of the HSUS to garner some sympathy, play some mind games and wheedle his way back into the NFL.

If anyone believes he has paid for his crimes you are sorely mistaken! If you believe he s truly remorseful, I also believe you are sorely mistaken. For him, this is just a way to pander to the public so he can get back in the game and back to the bucks.

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Update 4/30/09 – Holstein, Second Missing Rowan County Animal Shelter Dog Found!!

Recently two dogs were stolen from the Rowan County Animal Shelter in Morehead, KY.  One, an 8-year-old beagle named Jake and the second, an American Bulldog named Holstein.  One of the dogs was dragged under the kennel fence leaving behind fur, flesh and blood.

Jake, the beagle, was found about 6 miles from the shelter.  He was most like used as a bait dog for a dogfighting ring.  He is severely injured and has obvious bite marks.

Holstein, who was about to be adopted by a soldier returning from Afghanistan, is still missing.  Shelter and rescue advocates are worried that because the beautiful black and white dog is a bully breed he may be used for dog fighting.  They are offering a reward for his return.

Please help to get the word and picture of Holstein out.  No dog deserves to suffer such a cruel fate as dogfighting.  Can we put some pressure on and hope it’s not too late to save this boy!

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See 4/30/09 Update Below – Deputy Fired

A Richmond deputy, Corporal David Robinson, who works at the Richmond City Jail is facing charges of animal cruelty and dogfighting after 22 pitbulls along with dogfighting paraphernalia were seized from his home last week.

Authorities became involved after one of the dogs that was kept in the fenced in yard broke loose from its chain and began fighting with other dogs. Four dogs were injured and one was killed.

Aside from the dogs, police also seized a portable dog ring, a pulling sled and harness, wooden breaker bars, and a bag with medical equipment, drugs, a computer and weapons.

Richmond Sheriff C.T. Woody confirmed Robinson arrest and said the he had been an employee for six years. He was surprised and disappointed by the charges and arrest.

“He was a model deputy here, I am surprised, but I love animals, I care about animals, if the allegations are true he should get the same thing that Michael Vick or anybody else that abuses animals,” said Sheriff C.T. Woody.

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This smirking young man is Tyrik Clarence Cain, 18, of Hampton, VA and he’s now facing the following charges; one count of Animal Cruelty, one count of Organized Dogfighting and Possession of Marijuana with the Intent to Distribute.

Investigation into another animal abuse case in which two pitbulls were found in a dumpster led police to Cain. A search warrant turned up 7 chained pitbulls on the 800 blk. of W. Queen Street property. Police said along with injured dogs, they also found dog fighting paraphernalia on the property.

“Some of them, not all of them, had injuries,” explained Cpl. Paula Ensley. “There were some of them that had injuries consistent with dog fighting.”

According to an affidavit for a search warrant filed at Hampton Circuit Court, the two dead female dogs found in January had been shot in the head and had multiple wounds consistent with dog fighting.

Police received a tip that the dogs had belonged to Cain, aka “Poppy,” Hampton animal control officer Allan Cline said in the affidavit.

Investigators were told by an informant that dog fighting had been seen in the backyard of Cain’s home. The document said a reliable informant had seen Cain “engage a pit bull dog” with another man who was wearing a firearm tucked in his pants. The informant said the fight lasted a few minutes and both dogs were later retrieved and loaded into a black truck in front of Cain’s house.

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Many areas of Louisiana have long been notorious for dogfighting and cockfighting and the law has often turned a blind eye. With recent awareness on these horrific bloodsports, it’s not so easy just to ignore it anymore but it seems some in law enforcement still do. In Livingston Parish, Paul Tuennerman was looking for his missing dog late last year and came across a horrific sight, a canal located off Highway 42, between Colyell and French Settlement that’s being used as a dumping ground for dead dogs. There are dozens of them, from skeletal remains, to obviously fresh carcases, many of them mutilated and tortured beyond belief.

This is where Tuenneman found his beloved missing dog, Sadie.

“Yesterday morning, we discovered this new batch of six dogs that are obviously tortured beyond belief. I have had enough,” Tuennerman said.

He’s been going back there every week, taking pictures of the site, documenting evidence. He contacted the Parish sheriff with no results.

Tuennerman says he’s called the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office and has even written emails directly to the sheriff. He says a deputy admitted there was a problem. “He said, ‘Yeah, they been grabbing them up and down 42,” Tuennerman said the deputy told him.

However, Tuennerman goes on to say that so far it’s the only response he’s gotten. “It’s like a layup. This is easy. I’ve given you everything you need to solve this, except for having solved it for you. What is the sheriff waiting for?”

Tuennerman says shortly after the interview, he received a couple of calls and even a visit from some sheriff’s detectives who were disgusted by what they saw. Sheriff’s detectives are canvassing the area, but have not found any evidence of dog fighting. (WAFB)

It took media coverage to finally galvanize the law to get involved in something they should have taken seriously from the start!

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Well hallelujah!  An actual prison sentence for a piece of scum dog fighter! Meet Juan Carlos Olivero, a Miami-Dade man his sister describes as an animal lover. Oh yeah, he loves animal alright, loves to see them rip each other apart! Family members describe him as hard working. Yeah, it tough work to train dogs to be vicious instruments. It’s tough work to get a bunch of other trash together to watch these bloody spectacles. It’s tough work collecting money. Oh, I know, it’s really tough work trying to keep these illegal activities from the eyes of law enforcement. Looks like he failed on that one!

In November of 2007 Olivero, who ran a party supply rental business, was arrested, along with 6 others who have yet to stand trial,  after a tip led police a property off Krome Avenue at Southwest 160th Street. There they saw a crowd of people cheering a pair of bloodied pitbulls in a fighting ring.

The losing dog eventually died. Police found two more uninjured dogs there and four more at Olivero’s residence. All the dogs were euthanized because BSL is alive and rampant in Miami.

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A Gates County, NC deputy serving a civil warrant found more than he expected at a house located on Kellogg Fork Road outside Sunbury. When he noticed a dog that was obviously injured with a broken leg, he called in animal control. Checking out the property and barn turned up a total of 13 dogs, 11 pitbulls and 2 rottweilers, many malnourished, with obvious scars and injuries. They also found dogfighting training equipment.

Deputies actually saw 58-year-old Jackie Robinson Parker at the time but they had no arrest warrant and by the time one was issued he’d disappeared. After seeing a news story about himself, he called the sheriff’s department and said that he would turn himself in.

Officials speculate that this operation has been going on for years.

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In a follow-up to a story I did the other day about Edward Faron being sentenced to only 8-10 months after being convicted of 14 felony dogfighting counts, it’s now official, all the seized dogs plus the puppies that have been born since the dogs were seized have been ordered killed. About 60 of the now approximately 150 dogs are puppies.

Yesterday, after hearing from the HSUS, a prosecutor, the attorney for Wilkes County government, Wilkes County’s animal-control director, all calling for the dogs to be killed, Superior Court Judge Ed Wilson Jr. handed down the order.

Two members of the HSUS said the dogs had been bred for aggression and and the Wilkes animal control director said that some of the dogs that were puppies when they were seized were already showing aggression.

That’s not really surprising considering I’m sure these dogs and puppies have been only minimally cared for, not trained or socialized. It could happen with just about any dog.

Best Friends Society tried to get their side heard without any luck. Although they said they have been trying to get in touch with Assistant District Attorney Fred Bauer since mid-January, Bauer told the Judge that he’d only heard from them last week and did not recall getting any messages from them prior to that. Best Friends had also gotten in contact with County Attorney Tony Triplett within days of the December raid and offered to work with rescue agencies to place the dogs.

“Those dogs are going to be killed solely because of prejudice,” said Ledy VanKavage, an attorney for Best Friends Animal Society, which had offered to pay to have the dogs evaluated and to spay or neuter the adoptable dogs.

“They should be judged as individuals just as people are,” VanKavage said. “It’s a massacre.”
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