Tyler County Man Sold Pit Bulls Possibly Used in International Dogfighting Ring, TX
Source: KFDM, Nov 17,2008 By Nicole Murray
A man who raised Pit Bulldogs in Tyler County tells KFDM News he had no idea some of the animals he raised might have been used in a dog fighting ring. Last Friday, investigators seized dozens of dogs from a home in Tyler County just north of Chester. The seizure was part of a larger investigation into what officers call the largest dogfighting ring in the nation.
Michael Bell has been raising and selling pit bulls for more than 15 years at his home in Tyler County, “they know i am not a dog fighter so i don’t know why they did it.” Friday morning several law enforcement agencies seized all 65 of his dogs. Bell was told some of the dogs he’s sold in the past were used in what investigators are calling the largest dog fighting operation in the country. Bell said,”I am not dog fighting and I hate to see people use them to fight, but it’s hard to control what a person does after they buy dog.”
Tyler County Sheriff’s Deputy Bud Sturrock says officers didn’t arrest Bell, “we were unaware of the amount of animals that were here as far as neighbors complaints with animal abuse or neglect we had none.”Basically they were in sound health to me you could say some of them had a little of ribs showing but as far as the animals being abused i can’t say they were neglected.”
Investigators say they spent 17 months looking into the ring. They attended some of the dog fights held at eight secluded sites in Harris County. Authorities say the fights drew crowds of 100 people and bets on one fight could total $80,000. Police say journals kept during the fights suggest some of the dogs may have been shipped across the world.In all 200 dogs were seized, eight people arrested, and 47 others indicted.
Bell says he makes a living raising and selling dogs. depending on the blood line the Pit Bulls can sell for anywhere from $500 to $2,500 dollars, “my goal right now is to get my dogs back and get my business back up and running.” Although this time around he says he’ll be more careful on who buys his animals.
Harris County investigators say most of the two hundred dogs that were seized will likely be euthanized.
