N.C. dogfighting operation shut down
Authorities seized 127 dogs from an apparent dogfighting operation in western North Carolina and arrested the man who wrote the book on raising fighting dogs — or at least a book.
Officials of the Humane Society of the United States said Thursday that three arrests were made during the raid at Wildside Kennels in McGrady, N.C., which was the culmination of a three-year investigation by the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office, Wilkes County Animal Control agency and HSUS.
One of the men arrested, Wildside Kennels owner Ed Faron, is a known pit bull breeder and an influential figure in underground dogfighting, HSUS said. He co-wrote The Complete Gamedog: A Guide to Breeding and Raising the American Pit Bull Terrier, which includes graphic, supposedly fictional accounts of dogfight injuries.
More information about the kennel can be found on its website.
Faron and the other two men were each charged with felony counts of dogfighting and baiting; additional charges are pending.
Authorities found suspected dogfighting paraphernalia on the property and seized 127 dogs. Several dogs had scars consistent with dogfighting, according to an HSUS report.
“The raid of this suspected dogfighting operation is the culmination of an extensive investigation, and dogfighters everywhere should worry that they could be next,” said Chris Schindler, deputy manager of animal fighting law enforcement for HSUS.
It is a felony to possess a dog for the purpose of dogfighting in North Carolina. Those involved in illegal dogfighting can receive four to 10 months in prison.
(Photo: Ed Faron, from Wildside Kennels myspace page)
Posted by jwoestendiek December 11th, 2008 under Muttsblog.
Tags: american pit bull terrier, animal welfare, arrests, book, dogfighting, dogs, ed faron, felony, fighting, hsus, humane society, investigation, north carolina, operation, pitbulls, raid, ring, seized, the complete gamedog, westside kennels, wilkes county
Comments
Comment from val
Time July 2, 2009 at 2:16 pm
I’m the proud owner of 2 loving and beautiful full blooded registered pits and I could not imagine fighting them, despite their natural desire and amazing strenghth.
Comment from Anne-n-Spencer
Time December 11, 2008 at 10:44 pm
That website looks familiar to me. I’m wondering if he hasn’t “contributed” to an otherwise fairly legitimate Wikipedia article. I looked at the website and noticed a number of these dogs are designated “champion.” Can’t help wondering which registry. Or does that somehow mean a winning fighter? It’s a bit blood-curdling. I guess we have to keep putting these people away until they get the message.