Rescue of 17 pit bulls, puppies tip of iceberg?
By J. Anfenson-Comeau
A bloated corpse rotting in a gully, with a thick collar around its neck and scars across its body; this is often the inglorious fate of an abused dog trained to fight and kill other dogs.
Seventeen pit bull dogs and puppies were rescued from such a potential ending last weekend, but officials say that dogfighting is a serious problem in St. Landry Parish.
The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Department arrested Troy Nesky Hubbard, 17, of Eunice and charged him with dog fighting, cruelty to animals, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and a number of other drug-related charges, and animal control seized 13 dogs at his 220 East Oak home, four at another location.
Two juveniles were also charged in the case.
St. Landry Parish Animal Control Supervisor Patricia Guillory said that a treadmill and other equipment used in dogfighting were on the premises.
“When we looked at the dogs in the kennels, we saw they were dirty, just filthy, and many of the dogs had no water. Their cages were filled with old hay, feces and urine, and it stunk really bad,” Guillory said.
Guillory said that four of the dogs were juveniles of approximately six months in age, and six were puppies, approximately three months old.
“One puppy had this thick chain around its neck; we couldn’t get it off without cutting through the chain,” Guillory said.
Many of the adults had severe scarring and other injuries consistent with dogfighting, Guillory noted.
One dog had most of its ears cut off; this is often done in dogfighting to give the opposing dog less to hold onto.
Guillory said the dogs were emaciated. Some adults had no shelter; for others, an overturned barrel filled with water was their intended housing.
“Those that had water, there were feces mixed in with their water, making this sludge; it was really gross,” Guillory said.
Dogfighting and the animal abuse associated with it seems to be a big problem in the parish, Guillory said, based on the number of scarred and injured dogs picked up by animal control.
“If a dog loses, oftentimes it’ll just be thrown out. These dogs are not usually aggressive towards people, but they are aggressive towards dogs, so they come up to people’s houses all beaten up, bleeding and swollen up, or with other injuries, and they call us.
“We also find dead dogs thrown in ditches or gullies; that happens a lot too,” Guillory said.
Diana Morales, president of the Louisiana Animal Control Association, described the tri-parish area as a “hotbed of illegal dogfighting” last winter after three scarred pit bull corpses were found in ditches along Perchville Road.
Several other dog carcasses were found in ditches on the east side of Eunice.
“I think the abuse of animals, and the illegal gambling that goes along with dog fighting, is a serious problem in our parish. It attracts individuals from outside our communities who are involved in illegal activities such as gambling,” St. Landry Parish Bobby Guidroz said.
Guidroz said it’s not unexpected to find illegal drugs tied with dogfighting.
“We’ve got individuals who are coming to these dogfighting events, and they’re bringing drugs and using them at these events,” Guidroz said.
As for the puppies and dogs taken in by animal control, Guillory said that the American Pit Bull Rescue Association has expressed an interest in taking some of the dogs.
The Humane Society of the United States is offering rewards of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of dogfighters.
All calls will remain completely confidential.
(202) 452-1100
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