ASCHAE’s DogBlog

Source: King5.com, October 6, 2009

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a possible dog-fighting operation in the 9200 block of 292nd Street East in Graham. It may be the biggest the county has ever seen.

Monday night, 22 pit bulls are in custody at the Tacoma & Pierce County Humane Society. Many show signs of abuse and mistreatment, like a ripped lip on one dog and a wounded untreated leg on another.

“She’s obviously a dog that’s never seen a veterinarian,” says Kathleen Olson, Humane Society Director.

“They all have scars and have all been stitched up. There some dogs out there deceased in the bushes clear down to the bone. So obviously they were just discarding them by throwing them in the woods,” says Detective Ed Troyer.

The investigation started Saturday when deputies responded to a domestic violence call coming from the home. They discovered a marijuana grow operation and arrested a 36-year-old man who lives there. Then they found the dogs and evidence they were being trained to fight.

“There were treadmills and leashes on them and cages built on them forcing the dogs into exercising and getting stronger, and there was veterinary medicine around, but it was not being administered by a veterinarian. They were doing their own medical care for these dogs,” Troyer said.

Neighbors say they have seen traffic in and out of their home all the time, and that the residents often display firearms walking around the property. Those same neighbors wouldn’t talk on camera for fear of retaliation.

The Humane Society says a handful of dogs could be adopted out, but the rest will likely have to be euthanized.

Even if the dogs are friendly toward humans, they could already be trained to attack to other dogs – a behavior that is difficult to unlearn.

The 36-year-old man was arrested for first-degree domestic violence assault and for growing marijuana. Police say animal cruelty charges and more arrests could follow.