Authorities arrest 15 people Sunday 03/12/07
By STEPHANIE
MILLER and VONDA LEE MORTON
Fifteen people from three different counties were arrested in a suspected dog fighting ring Sunday, leaving locals outraged at the inhumane treatment of the dogs involved.
“It broke my heart to see the condition of some of these dogs,” said Laurens County Sheriff Bill Harrell at press time today.
The arrests took place Sunday as a result of a tip by Laurens County Animal Control about possible illegal dog fighting at a location, Harrell said. A report filed by the Laurens County Deputy Wilks Fraser shows that an off-duty officer passed by a location and became suspicious of a dog fight taking place and called the sheriff’s department to report it.
After arriving on scene, deputies found several subjects and numerous dogs that appeared to be used for fighting. Several subjects from various counties were arrested for dog fighting and the dogs have been turned over to animal control for safe keeping and treatment for health related issues. More charges may result after further investigation. The case is being investigated by the sheriff’s department, Laurens County Animal Control, Laurens County Rural Fire, the Georgia Department of Investigation and the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
Harrell said every effort was made to investigate the case and the circumstances fully to make sure a conviction would take place. A local veterinarian was called to the scene to assess the health of each dog and determine where the dogs should be taken.
Laurens County Humane Society Director Irene Sumner said a total of 38 dogs were taken into protective custody and have been divided between the shelter and a private location. Six of the dogs required veterinary care.
“We’ve been trying for seven years to see a dog fighting case brought in,” said Sumner, adding that’s how long she and others have suspected but could not prove that there was a dog fighting circuit in the area. Now that arrests have finally been made she’s “ecstatic” about the possibility of shutting down some of the activity.
“A blood sport is not a sport,” she said.
Most of the 17 dogs currently being housed at the shelter are females used as breeding stock. While most are “very thin” from not being well cared for, Sumner said they are still “friendly to humans and showing no major aggression toward each other.”
The dogs are being kept in separate pens, however, for their safety, and they do show marked aggression toward smaller animals outside their pens.
Another 14 dogs are being held at an undisclosed location, and the six dogs requiring veterinary treatment are at Dublin Animal Hospital.
Veterinarian Jay Lord said he was called in about 7:30 Sunday night and worked until 11 p.m. to get all the dogs inspected, treated and tagged.
“All the dogs we have are males with miscellaneous fight wounds — heads, faces, shoulders, front legs. We have them on antibiotics and anti-inflammatories at the moment, and they’re all doing fairly well.”
Laurens County Rural Fire and Animal Control Director Don Bryant said the arrests would not have been possible if it had not been for the concerned citizens of the community. The arrests took place in the area of Johnson Lake Road and New Buckeye Road.
Arrested and charged with dog fighting were: Randy Bernard White of 702 Stovall Street, Dublin; Leon Harris of 142 Folsom Drive, Wrightsville; Tyrone Antonio Smith of 823 South Marcus Street Apt. 27, Wrightsville; Keldrick K. Cason of 104 F. Wesley Drive, Wrightsville; Frank Harris Jr. of Wright Run, Wrightsville; Lourenco Tehara Montford of 1815 Betty Street, Sandersville; Telly Keith of 409 Florida Street, Dublin; Jerall Veross Walker of 69 New Hope Road, Wrightsville; Tony Anthony Rawlings of Route 2 Box 1404, Wrightsville; Chris Oliver of 924 Nottingham Drive, Dublin; Dennis Andrew Wilcher of 1686 Old Tucker School Road, Wrightsville; Derrick Hugh Montford of Route 1 Box 1190 Wrightsville; Sammy Lee Carswell of Route 2 Idlewild Road, Wrightsville; Santell Eugene Carey of 131 Folksom Circle, Wrightsville; and Jimmie Johnson of Route 4 Box 100 Wrightsville.
Fraser’s report shows a dog fighting pen and several dogs were found in a wooded area behind the residence at 2057 New Buckeye Road. At least one subject had blood on his clothing and did not explain where the blood came from.
Anyone with any information that can help in this case is asked to contact the Laurens County Sheriff’s Department or call Laurens County 911.