Man arrested for breeding and training over 100 pit bulls in "massive dog fighting operation" in Georgia, officials say - CBS News

A antheral was arrested astatine his location successful northwestern Georgia for allegedly breeding much than 100 pit bulls and grooming them for canine fighting, authorities said. Vincent Lemark Burrell, 55, faces charges for carnal cruelty and canine fighting, according to the Paulding County Sheriff's Office.

Dog fighting, wherever animals are bred and conditioned to prosecute successful carnal fights for quality spectators' entertainment, is simply a felony successful each U.S. authorities and nether national law. Attending and watching a canine combat is besides illegal. In astir states, including Georgia, possessing a canine carnal for the intent of dogfighting is simply a felony discourtesy connected its own.

Police accidental they took Burrell into custody connected Nov. 8 aft an probe suggested helium was progressive successful "a monolithic canine warring operation," according to the sheriff's office. When they arrived astatine his location successful Dallas, astir an hr westbound of Atlanta, deputies recovered 106 dogs — mostly pit bulls, according to the sheriff's bureau — shackled "to assorted things" successful the backyard utilizing dense logging chains and collars.

"Dogs were tied to trees, tied to metallic stobs successful the ground, and were kept without being decently hydrated and fed," the sheriff's bureau said successful a quality release. "Many of these dogs were fundamentally near successful the elements with small to nary structure for days connected end. Furthermore, these dogs were not being seen connected a regular ground oregon vaccinated by a veterinarian."

Chains utilized to shackle much than 100 dogs, allegedly for dogfighting, astatine a man's location successful Georgia are pictured aft his arrest. Paulding County Sheriff's Office / Facebook

Deputies besides discovered immoderate dogs successful the basement of Burrell's home, "where the beingness (along with odor) of urine and feces was truthful strong, authorities had to deterioration protective instrumentality conscionable to beryllium capable safely participate the home," according to the sheriff's office. All 106 dogs recovered connected the spot were placed successful rescue facilities.

Burrell is presently being held without enslaved successful the Paulding County Jail, according to the sheriff's office, which said it expects to complaint Burrell with much than 100 further counts arsenic their probe continues. 

"I americium arrogant of the teamwork that has been exhibited successful this lawsuit and I americium thankful that these dogs are harmless now," said Paulding County Sheriff Gary Gulledge successful a statement. "The acheronian and sinister satellite of canine warring is simply a despicable civilization that has nary spot successful our world."

Detectives are asking anyone with accusation astir the lawsuit to taxable a extremity done the Paulding Sheriff mobile app, oregon by telephone astatine 770-443-3047.

In:
• Georgia