Two KCK men charged in three-state dogfighting case
March 25, 2013
By TONY RIZZO
The Kansas City Star
Federal prosecutors have charged two Kansas City, Kan., men with participating in a three-state Midwest dogfighting ring that was broken up Saturday at a fight in Texas. Federal officials have broken up a three-state dogfighting ring that they say trained some dogs on treadmills in Kansas City, Kan. U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom (center) spoke about the charges during a press conference Monday at the federal courthouse in Kansas City, Kan.
Federal officials have broken up a three-state Midwest dog-fighting ring that they say trained some dogs on treadmills in Kansas City, Kan. Authorities seized 71 dogs, most of them pit bulls, over the weekend in Kansas, Missouri and Texas, said Barry Grissom, the U.S. attorney for Kansas. Among the sites searched were a Kansas City, Kan., residence — where some dogs allegedly were trained using treadmills and caged chickens — and a northern Missouri farm owned by one of the suspects, authorities said.
Pete Davis Jr., 38, and Melvin L. Robinson, 41, are charged in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan., with transporting dogs in interstate commerce to participate in animal fighting. If convicted, each man faces up to five years in federal prison. The two men owned as many as 60 dogs that were kept mainly at the farm in Harrison County, Mo., where fights were held on Sundays, according to court documents unsealed Monday.
Medical teams from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals are caring for the seized dogs and six rescued chickens , authorities said Monday. Staff from Wayside Waifs in Kansas City and Great Plains SPCA in Merriam are helping with operations to care for the animals in a temporary shelter, ASPCA officials said.
“Dogfighting is not a sport. It is a crime,” Grissom said at a Monday afternoon news conference. The charges and animal rescues were the result of a five-month investigation by federal, state and local law enforcement officers and the ASPCA, Grissom said. He said that partnership showed that authorities take the crime very seriously.
“We hope this will send a message,” Grissom said. “This kind of behavior has to stop.”
According to the allegations, Robinson used treadmills and weights to train the dogs, which sometimes killed chickens in the exercises. A plywood box kept the dogs on the treadmills and Robinson allegedly would place a harnesses on the dogs and chain the harnesses to the treadmills for hours at a time. Davis, Robinson and a third person allegedly removed two dead dogs from the farm this month and disposed of them in Kansas. Witnesses told investigators that Robinson and Davis discussed traveling to Texas in late March for a large “dog show,” which is code for dogfight, federal investigators said. Robinson and Davis also talked about plans to wager $20,000 to $30,000 on the fights, according to the documents.
On Friday, law enforcement officers followed the pair and several other people traveling in a three-vehicle convoy through Oklahoma and into Texas to a location near Tyler. At Monday’s news conference, authorities said about 30 people were attending the fight Saturday night in a wooded area when police moved in. One of the Kansas City, Kan., men was arrested there, but authorities did not say which one. The other man turned himself in to authorities in Kansas. Many people attending the fight fled when police arrived. “Like cockroaches when the lights are turned on,” Grissom said.
A similar joint investigation in 2009 that centered on northwest Missouri broke the largest U.S. dogfighting ring, involving more than 400 dogs. Though the case announced Monday was not as large, it still was a significant operation, said Tim Rickey, the vice president of the ASCPA’s field investigations and response team.
Rickey said the animals’ health is being assessed while they are held as evidence in the criminal cases. The goal is to rehabilitate as many of the dogs as possible and prepare them for adoption, he said. “In our eyes,these dogs have suffered tremendously as a result of this for-profit crime,” he said. “We want to give these dogs a second chance.” Despite the disruption of two major operations in the area since 2009, dogfighting remains prevalent, Rickey said. “My goal — our goal — is to put an end to this brutal and barbaric industry,” he said.
Frankie is getting better!!!
Frankie is settling in her crate more and she’s not screaming as long as she used to. We’re glad to see her eating more and putting her weight back on — I can’t feel her hip bones as much as I used to. Though she is a picky eater she only wants to eat the wet food first and if she’s really has to the dry :-) I found out this morning she is really fascinated with the Spanish cartoons. It’s the first time I’ve seen her sit and watch the tv and she was doing it a lot while the cartoons were on.
Thank you to everyone who so generously donated to Frankie’s care !! We’ll keep everyone updated on her progress.
Tortured Pit Bulls Found in Dumpster
Two emaciated and mutilated pit bulls were found in a Kansas City, Missouri dumpster near 31st and Campbell on Monday, April 18th, 2011.
The following information was posted on the local NBC affiliate’s website:
By: Sam Hartle
KANSAS CITY, Missouri – A Kansas City woman says she saw a man dump two pit bulls into a dumpster Monday afternoon.
P.J. Ruth says when she went to look into the dumpster behind her office at 31st and Campbell when she found both dogs dead. Ruth says she’s friends with Spay and Neuter Kansas City, who says one of the dogs was beaten with a blunt object. The second dog may have died from a gunshot wound.
Michelle Rivera says Spay and Neuter Kansas City has set up a $1,000 reward leading to the capture of the man who dumped the two dogs into the dumpster.
(Updated: United Animals Nation, a California-based animal welfare agency, has donated $2,500. Earlier, a private donor pledged $3,500, bringing the total reward to $7,500)
Ruth and Rivera are also planning a vigil Thursday at 6 p.m. near the site where the dogs were found.
Pit Bull Hit by Car – Meet Stella
Stella, after being hit by auto on busy Kansas City street
Mid-America Bully Breed Rescue came to the aid of two puppies when they were hit by a car on a busy Kansas City street in 100+ degree heat. Members of the Kansas City Police Department contacted MABBR when they received a call for help.
Witnesses said the pups were being walked by men who fled the scene after the dogs were injured.
Both puppies were taken to the vet and treated. The female, Stella, sustained injuries to her leg and eye. The male, Earl, was not seriously injured. Both pups were transferred to foster homes where they fully recovered and were eventually adopted into new homes.
Stella, fully recovered and adopted
Starved Pit Bull – Meet Twiggy
Twiggy after being found as a stray dog running in traffic
Twiggy was found along the highway running through traffic when a good samaritan picked her up. This poor sweetheart was truly skin and bones. We don’t know if her previous owner just seriously neglected her, or if she was on her own for a long period of time before she was found.
She is an outgoing, loving and very friendly dog. She was taken to the vet immediately upon rescue and in addition to being malnourished, she was diagnosed with parasites and treated. Fortunately, she tested negative for heartworms.
Twiggy has a zest for life and is a very deserving little girl. She is currently in a boarding facilty and we would love to see her in a foster home or forever home very soon. She deserves to live the pampered life of a cherished companion!
Update: Twiggy has been adopted! Special thanks to Carol Turner for her assistance with Twiggy, and to Twiggy’s sponsors: Jim and Mary King, Rhonda Cooke, Jennifer Price.
Twiggy a few weeks after being rescued