Posted: Oct 23, 2014 11:03 AM EST Updated: Oct 23, 2014 7:15 PM EST
By Steve Andrews
POLK COUNTY, FL (WFLA) -Sixty-nine dogs were seized from two properties and two people arrested overnight during a dog fighting investigation in Polk County.
Nickie Nicole Sanders, 44, and Hewitt Grant, 47, are charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty in connection with operating a dog fighting ring at two different locations.
The dogs were confiscated by Polk County Sheriff's deputies who executed search warrants on October 22 at the two locations.
Detectives say 20 dogs were found at a home at 122 Martin Luther King Jr. St. in Fort Meade.
Seven of the dogs they found were wearing heavy logging chains that are used to strengthen the dogs for fighting.
Deputies also say they found an area where a dog fighting ring had been set up and removed. Bloody pieces of carpet were also found at the location.
41 dogs were removed from a home at 880 LB Brown Ave. in Bartow on October 22.
Deputies say they found a portable dog fighting ring and carpet that was used at the first location. This dog fighting ring was found in the yard of the Bartow home. Deputies say they also found a second dog fighting ring. There was blood on nearby on carpet and blood on side walls.
Four dogs were found in logging chains at this location. 37 other dogs were in kennels. A treadmill used to condition dogs for fighting and training was found at the location, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Deputies say a yellow pit bull had severe wounds on its head and face from fighting. The dog had not received medical treatment.
The dogs are in the custody of Polk County Animal Control, many at risk of being put down.
They claim Grant and Sanders trained the dogs to fight and created very dangerous animals. Many of the animals are injured, showing signs of fighting.
"We like to think we rescued these dogs but the reality of it is this guy created dogs that are really, that are dangerous," Chief W.J. Martin of the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.
According to the Polk Sheriff's office, Grant was convicted of dog fighting in 2006. 138 dogs were confiscated from Grant and a permanent injunction prohibited him from owning any dogs.
"Clearly Judge Selph didn't get through to him, hopefully the next judge that deals with him will put him in a cage somewhere for a while," Martin said.
According to Martin this investigation is just beginning.
"Obviously when you've got this many dogs and you're fighting them it's not just you and your girlfriend sitting there fighting 69 dogs there's obviously other people involved other people that have dogs that are fighting these dogs so certainly our investigation will expand from here," he said.
According to the sheriff's office, the dogs are being evaluated at Animal Control.
Martin said he hates to put the dogs down, but grant and sanders created fighting machines that are animal aggressive.
Nickie Nicole Sanders faces 48 charges related to animal cruelty or animal fighting one count of possession of cannabis and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Hewitt Grant faces 78 charges related to animal cruelty or animal fighting, one count of possession of cannabis and two counts of felon in possession of a firearm.
More pictures and video available at link
69 dogs rescued, 2 arrested in alleged Polk dog-fighting probe - WFLA News Channel 8
By Steve Andrews
POLK COUNTY, FL (WFLA) -Sixty-nine dogs were seized from two properties and two people arrested overnight during a dog fighting investigation in Polk County.
Nickie Nicole Sanders, 44, and Hewitt Grant, 47, are charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty in connection with operating a dog fighting ring at two different locations.
The dogs were confiscated by Polk County Sheriff's deputies who executed search warrants on October 22 at the two locations.
Detectives say 20 dogs were found at a home at 122 Martin Luther King Jr. St. in Fort Meade.
Seven of the dogs they found were wearing heavy logging chains that are used to strengthen the dogs for fighting.
Deputies also say they found an area where a dog fighting ring had been set up and removed. Bloody pieces of carpet were also found at the location.
41 dogs were removed from a home at 880 LB Brown Ave. in Bartow on October 22.
Deputies say they found a portable dog fighting ring and carpet that was used at the first location. This dog fighting ring was found in the yard of the Bartow home. Deputies say they also found a second dog fighting ring. There was blood on nearby on carpet and blood on side walls.
Four dogs were found in logging chains at this location. 37 other dogs were in kennels. A treadmill used to condition dogs for fighting and training was found at the location, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Deputies say a yellow pit bull had severe wounds on its head and face from fighting. The dog had not received medical treatment.
The dogs are in the custody of Polk County Animal Control, many at risk of being put down.
They claim Grant and Sanders trained the dogs to fight and created very dangerous animals. Many of the animals are injured, showing signs of fighting.
"We like to think we rescued these dogs but the reality of it is this guy created dogs that are really, that are dangerous," Chief W.J. Martin of the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.
According to the Polk Sheriff's office, Grant was convicted of dog fighting in 2006. 138 dogs were confiscated from Grant and a permanent injunction prohibited him from owning any dogs.
"Clearly Judge Selph didn't get through to him, hopefully the next judge that deals with him will put him in a cage somewhere for a while," Martin said.
According to Martin this investigation is just beginning.
"Obviously when you've got this many dogs and you're fighting them it's not just you and your girlfriend sitting there fighting 69 dogs there's obviously other people involved other people that have dogs that are fighting these dogs so certainly our investigation will expand from here," he said.
According to the sheriff's office, the dogs are being evaluated at Animal Control.
Martin said he hates to put the dogs down, but grant and sanders created fighting machines that are animal aggressive.
Nickie Nicole Sanders faces 48 charges related to animal cruelty or animal fighting one count of possession of cannabis and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Hewitt Grant faces 78 charges related to animal cruelty or animal fighting, one count of possession of cannabis and two counts of felon in possession of a firearm.
More pictures and video available at link
69 dogs rescued, 2 arrested in alleged Polk dog-fighting probe - WFLA News Channel 8
FL: 69 dogs rescued, 2 arrested in alleged Polk dog-fighting probe
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