Undercover Sting Leads to Dog Fighting Arrest, VA
Source: wset.com, May 26, 2010
Bedford County authorities say they’ve dealt a huge blow to a national dog fighting ring by locking up one of its top breeders.
The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that they arrested Jeffrey Denny, 36, of North Carolina in an undercover sting at the Exxon in Montvale Monday night.
Denny was there to sell a female pit bull and planned on driving to Charleston, West Virginia to sell another dog, authorities say.
He has been charged with two counts of transporting animals for the purpose of fighting.
Investigators say Denny has delivered dogs all over the country, and they believe he’s responsible for hundreds of dog fighting deaths.
The good news is the two dogs taken from him are now in an animal shelter, saved from a life of violence.
Deputies say he has a reputation for breeding good fighting pit bulls.
“Mr. Denny is a nationally known and admitted dog fighter,” Bedford County Sheriff Mike Brown said. “He’s acknowledged that he’s sold hundreds of game-bred dogs throughout the United States.”
Investigators seized Denny’s mini-van, rigged to transport multiple dogs. These dogs were going for $900 apiece. The business of dog fighting is reported to be a multi-million dollar industry.
“And not too many of them put in 1099s to the IRS,” Brown said with a laugh.
The US Humane Society says they’ve had Denny at the top of their watch list for months.
“He’s been a long-standing breeder of dogs that are for the purpose of fighting,” US Humane Society Cruelty Investigator Chris Schindler said.
They’re certain word of his arrest will get around.
“It’s this effort that’s going to send a ripple effect cross the country to other animal fighters that this crime is not going to be tolerated,” Schindler said.
And they say the goal is to save the lives of dogs.
“Save possibly hundreds and hundreds of other dogs from being maimed and killed in the most gruesome way,” Brown said.
Authorities in Randolph County, North Carolina also seized 16 pit bulls from Denny’s home. They’ve charged him with 16 counts of dog fighting and 11 counts of cruelty to animals.





