February 20, 2008

TUCSON, Ariz. – A year long investigation ended Tuesday night with six people arrested and more than a 100 dogs seized in what is being called the nation’s largest dog fighting and dog-fight breeding ring.

The raid took place near Tucson, Ariz., where Pima County sheriff’s deputies served warrants and the Humane Society of the United States took custody of 150 dogs. Ninety-nine percent of the animals were pit bulls.

Authorities also found more than 50 weapons, thousands of dollars in cash, training materials and a rape stand used for breeding female pit bulls.

“They take dogs that have proven themselves as having the ability to fight and the willingness to keep fighting, even when severely injured,” said Lead Animal Investigator Mike Duffey of HSUS. “They only breed those, because they want those characteristics to go into the offspring.”

Among those arrested was Mahlon Patrick, who is identified by investigators as one of the top three suspected breeders of fighting dogs in the country.

Within animal fighting circles, Patrick climbed to alleged celebrity status since his involvement in the late 1960s.

“(He) was known worldwide for two bloodlines he originated – two blood lines of fighting dogs,” said John Goodwin, a HSUS official in charge of animal fighting issues. “They go under the names of Tombstone and Bolio.”

Goodwin also said the dogs from these bloodlines command prices from the thousands to the tens of thousands of dollars for their highly desired stamina and fighting skills.

In addition to Patrick, five others were arrested, including Emily Dennis, Robert Smith, Juan Verdin and his wife, Zenadia Verdin, and Terry Williams, also known as “T.L.”

”We have dismantled a group of people at the upper echelon of dog fighting,” said Goodwin.

Williams, who has escaped prosecution in the past, operates a dog registry that is used by animal fighters across the country.

The arrests came after raids at several different locations. Also, during the raids authorities seized tools commonly used in hard-core dog fighting operations. This included treadmills specifically modified to exercise the dogs to exhaustion as part of their pre-fight training for increasing stamina.

Other items found were injectable substances and break sticks, which are used to pry apart the jaws of dogs locked in battle.

The investigation began when Chicago police stopped a vehicle holding several fighting dogs last March. Leads in the case eventually were traced back to Tucson. Combined with the Humane Society’s information on a possible dog fighting ring near Tucson, authorities narrowed their focus.

Now investigators will spend about three days processing each dog for missing teeth, scars and tattoos. Ten of the seized dogs required medical attention.

The dogs are being held at the Pima Animal Care Center before they will be moved to a secret location.

“This world of dog fighting, that so few people know very much about at all, is really organized crime,” said Goodwin, who estimates there are about 40,000 people in the U.S. involved in dog fighting.

The HSUS reports that dog fighting is a multi-million dollar criminal industry that affects hundreds of thousands of dogs nationwide. However, since the Michael Vick case, Goodwin said the number of dog fighting busts has tripled across the country.

With awareness raised, communities like Tucson are working to root out the illegal sport.

“Dog fighting is a terribly inhumane and damaging activity that has no place in our community,” said Public Information Officer Dawn Henke of the Pima Country Sheriff’s Department.

Contact HSUS with any information about possible dog fighting by calling 202-452-1100.

Tell us what you think under this story. Post your favorite pet videos at the zootooTV tab. E-mail us your story ideas at news@zootoo.com or call us at 877-777-4204.

Special contributions to this report made by Channel 12 News Phoenix and KVOA News 4, Tucson.