Latest news with #dogfighting
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
14 people sentenced after GA dog fighting ring bust
A judge has sentenced 14 defendants in a large-scale federal dog fighting case in Southwest Georgia to a total of 343 months in prison. According to court records, defendants from three states all gathered on a property in Donalsonville, Georgia, on April 24, 2022, where they held a dog fighting event. Someone called 911, and police arrived and saved 27 dogs that night, including one found in the blood-soaked fighting pit with severe injuries, who died soon after it was found. Police also seized a distribution-sized amount of methamphetamine. Cell phones that were seized at the event contained evidence of some of the participants' participation in the dog fighting 'industry,' including large text message chains about dog fighting, fight reports, and dog fighting videos and photos, including one of a dog that had been hanged to death in a garage. Police seized and rescued 78 pit bull-type dogs during their investigation, including 51 recovered during search warrants executed with arrest warrants. The details of the total sentencings are below: Donnametric Miller, of Donalsonville, Georgia – 100 months in prison; Fredricus White, of Panama City, Florida – 35 months in prison; Christopher Travis Beaumont, of Panama City, Florida – 30 months in prison; Marvin Pulley, of Donalsonville, Georgia – 30 months in prison; Cornelious Johnson, of Panama City, Florida – 27 months in prison; Terelle Ganzy, of Panama City, Florida – 24 months in prison; Willie Russell, of Blakely, Georgia – 24 months in prison; Brandon Baker, of Panama City, Florida – 20 months in prison; Terrance Davis, of Pansey, Alabama – 20 months in prison; Tamichael Elijah, of Donalsonville, Georgia – 18 months in prison; Timothy Freeman, of Bainbridge, Georgia – time served (15 months in prison); Herman Buggs Jr., of Donalsonville, Georgia – time served (two weeks in prison); Rodrecus Kimble, of Donalsonville, Georgia – one year home confinement; and Gary Hopkins, of Donalsonville, Georgia – six months home confinement. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
ABC News
08-05-2025
- ABC News
Man jailed for his role in Australian dog fighting ring boasted online he 'killed more dogs than parvovirus'
Warning: This story contains graphic content involving animal cruelty. A man jailed for his role in a dog fighting ring remains a member of multiple online groups that discuss the blood sport, even boasting that he has killed "more dogs than parvovirus". Darling Downs man Glenn Wilson was found guilty in 2019 of supplying a pit bull terrier called "Pretty Girl" for fighting and failing to provide appropriate living conditions and treatment to several other dogs. He was sentenced to six months in prison, banned from owning pit bulls for life, and forced to pay $60,000 to the RSPCA. The ABC can reveal that, almost five years later, Wilson remains a member of online groups where people frequently post about dog fighting and the sale of pedigree American pit bull terriers. He is also a member of several RSPCA victim support and accountability groups. It comes after an ABC investigation revealed Australia's links with the global trade of dogs with fighting bloodlines. In some groups, Wilson proudly posts images of himself posing with pedigree dogs and appears to discuss their fighting credentials. In response to one comment, he explains the dog he has posted is a "CH" or champion — slang that experts say refers to a dog that has won at least three contracted matches. He talks about preparing dogs for fights during the "keep" conditioning period and how he would get them down to fighting weight. "After a true keep, dex (a drug given to dogs), empty outs, shaving hair off, starving my mutts I can't lose a few grams, let alone a lb," he wrote. In another post, he captions a photo of a snarling dog with "show me winners!!!". "He reckons I've killed more dogs than parvovirus. FACT!" he tells another commenter. In response to a post asking members to pray pit bulls are protected from "dog fighters, abusers and neglectful owners", Wilson responds: "FFS what a load of fur mummy bull shit". In another post someone asks for the definition of animal cruelty and Wilson responds, "using a [sic] axe not a hammer". When contacted by the ABC, he denied any involvement in dog fighting but admitted to culling dogs that could not hunt by shooting them. He said his social media posts were part of his online persona and designed to "shock". "I know the lingo, I've got it down-pat. I've been invested in dogs, had bull terrier type dogs since I was a child," he said. In 2018, the RSPCA seized five dogs at a Yalangur property where Wilson was living, along with a treadmill with a leash attached and a "break stick" used to separate fighting dogs. "Pretty Girl" was found in a cage with significant scarring that was consistent with involvement in organised dog fighting, according to court documents. Two other dogs, "Chico" and "Jesus", were also found with heavy scarring in a separate enclosure of dirt and rocks with "a small amount of scattered straw". They were tethered by a heavy metal chain to an axle partly buried in the ground. The dogs, plus another canine called "Beetle", were diagnosed with bacterial conjunctivitis after their seizure. Beetle was found in a raised donga without access to food, water or proper bedding. "Naughty", a fifth dog found in the back of a ute at the property, was lame in the right hind foot. The magistrate found Wilson showed a lack of remorse or insight into his offending, sentencing him to six months' imprisonment with three months' parole. Mr Wilson said he did not support dog fighting but "if it's done on a scientific or professional level, I'd be interested and probably intrigued by the outcome." Wilson said he has suffered both personally and professionally due to his conviction, and has been unable to find a job, has lost friendships and is in debt. He said losing his dogs was a big blow to his identity, conceding he was "obsessed". The ABC does not suggest that Wilson is involved in dog fighting now — only that he is a member of several online groups where users have posted about dog fighting. Dog fighting is outlawed in Australia, but the penalties vary in each state and territory. In Queensland, organising and participating in dog fighting carries a maximum penalty of one year's imprisonment or a $48,390 fine. But several of the state's most high-profile dog fighting cases have received only half the maximum penalty and served even less time behind bars. Queensland man, Jarrad Trenear, spent less than a month in jail after being sentenced to six months' imprisonment over dog fighting and animal cruelty charges. Twenty dogs were seized from his Mount Cotton property in 2018, along with "rape stands" — a term dog fighters use for breeding stands — heavy chains and dog fighting paraphernalia. Richmond man Bradd O'Keeffe was sentenced to six months behind bars in 2019 after pleading guilty to two counts of supplying a dog for dog fighting but was released on parole after two months. Joshua Baskerville, charged with possessing prohibited spurs and one count of supplying a dog for a prohibited event, was sentenced to three years' probation. Dr Virginia Maxwell — a professor of forensic science at the University of New Haven, with expertise in animal crimes investigations — said it was not uncommon for those involved in dog fighting to get a "slap on the wrist". Contact our investigative reporter on to share news tips. "When you're only getting six months, that's not a deterrent for dog fighting, in my opinion," she said. "[In the US] we seem to have so many more laws beyond dog fighting, it's possessing paraphernalia, training dogs to fight other dogs, possessing dogs with the intent to fight, using dogs as bait, organising, advertising or promoting a dog fight, the list goes on. "They've made everything associated with dog fighting illegal." The RSPCA has been at the frontline of multiple dog-fighting busts, with many cases tied to other forms of organised crime. While the blood sport has been pushed underground, its Queensland office says there has been no decline in fights taking place. In recent years, the RSPCA has been involved in multiple dog fighting-related seizures, with many cases tied to broader criminal networks. "The RSPCA remains committed to advocating for stronger legislation and tougher penalties for those involved in dog fighting," a spokesperson said. A Queensland Police Service spokesperson said they were "not aware of any" recent cases of dog fighting and referred the ABC to the RSPCA.
ABC News
07-05-2025
- ABC News
Frozen semen of fighting dogs shipped abroad, ABC investigation reveals
Warning: This story contains graphic images and content involving animal cruelty. The frozen semen of dogs with fighting bloodlines is being sold to overseas buyers for what experts say is thousands of dollars, as an ABC investigation reveals international links between the illegal blood sport and Australia. The shadowy, underground world of dog fighting is highly lucrative, and experts say it's often linked to other organised crime. Those in the know are careful about who they let into their inner circle, so obtaining evidence of suspected involvement is difficult. A kennel in eastern Thailand boasted of this dog's pedigree and its Australian blood. ( Supplied ) But an ABC investigation has uncovered the sale of dogs from fighting lineages both domestically and internationally. In one case, a kennel bragged that frozen semen was sent from Australia to Thailand to breed a fighting dog, before it was sent to the Philippines to compete against an "international champion". Do you know more? Contact our investigative reporter on The global trade of fighting dogs and their bloodlines remains a serious issue — as does dog fighting, according to the RSPCA's Queensland office. "Australians may be shocked to learn the extent of these operations," a spokesperson said. "These fights continue to operate in secret, often in rural or isolated locations, making enforcement challenging." Dogs purpose-bred from fighting bloodlines A thick chain drags from a dog's neck as it walks in circles around a yard in eastern Thailand. Bolted to the ground, the dog has no choice but to walk the same short route. Online, the kennel that raised him boasts of the dog's pedigree and its Australian blood. "[The dog is] imported from Australia … off frozen semen, breeding his sire is almost 30 years on ice." The animal was purpose-bred from fighting bloodlines — and the kennel gloats the dog has made it proud. Johnny, a "two-time winner fighting dog" pictured (bottom right) at the yard in eastern Thailand, was purpose-bred from fighting bloodlines. ( Supplied ) It says the canine has been crowned a two-time winner after being shipped to the Philippines where it beat an international champion fighting dog in a little over an hour. "Before the show, they said to me [the dog] will die in the Philippines! My statement was 'I don't think so ... and he didn't disappoint anybody even his haters!" Footage of the yard, owned by German expat Stefan Stuiber, appears to show a dozen or so dogs bred from pedigree bloodlines tethered to chains and forced to run on a type of treadmill called a slat mill. A dog fight is as gruesome and bloody as you'd imagine, but for professionals, it's never spontaneous. In one post, the kennel advertises the sale of a "rolling dog". "Rolling" generally refers to "very short, controlled fights" before the dogs are game tested for their willingness to fight, according to international dog fighting expert Janette Reever. Ms Reever, the program manager of animal crimes and investigations at Humane World For Animals, says the process of "rolling" dogs generally starts at 18 months of age. "You may have a dog that does very well in the pit but lacks the jaw strength — he's not going to do that much damage to his opponent," she says. "Dogs like that may be culled, especially if a dog quits [during a fight] or starts looking around at the pit walls." Kennel claims to have sent dogs across the globe A now-deleted website for Mr Stuiber's kennel, uncovered by the ABC, discusses the importance of "gameness". "Game means that a Dog is willing to Fight till Dead even he knows that he not Win," the site says. "We DO NOT breed any dogs for fighting or illegal purposes!" Mr Stuiber has posted about "conditioning" dogs at the Thai yard. ( Supplied ) Ms Reever says "gameness" is a drive or desire to fight even when they're mortally injured. "There was a recent fight in Bulgaria where the dog had a broken leg and was continuing to try and get to his opponent," she says. "They're going to keep [that dog] … because even though he lost the fight, he fought for almost five hours." On Facebook, the kennel claims it has sent dogs to Kuwait, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Cambodia. Another photo shows a female dog tied to a wooden stand with its mouth taped shut as a male dog impregnates it. "Nice built rape stand," a man comments. "Self made bro, especially for that b**ch she's a crazy one," the kennel responds. A breeding stand, or "rape stand", pictured in Stefan Stuiber's yard. ( Supplied ) The kennel page also explains the acronyms associated with the blood sport — including champion (a dog that's won three contract matches), grand champion (a dog that's won five) and register of merit (a producer of champion dogs). It also posts a story about a dog who "got injuries and more" in the box as he "got weaker and weaker" and "scratched and scratched" "If you(r) dog can't win but show(s) deep Gameness … take him home with you. Miss you my boy!" the post said. In another post, Mr Stuiber advertises a copy of his own updated version of the Cajun Rules, which is widely recognised as the manual for dog fighting. The ABC was unable to obtain a copy of the edition. Stefan Stuiber denies he is a dog fighter but says he breeds dogs in Thailand. ( Supplied ) Mr Stuiber denied he was involved in dog fighting and instead described himself as a breeder. When questioned about posts on his page, he described it as "fictional" and referenced COVID-19 and The Matrix. "All is lie, even our history and so of each dog. If there's no story behind a dog, how can you sell his offspring," he wrote. "You can't bother me or scare if you were thinking of it." Mr Stuiber has defended the chaining of dogs at his yard. ( Supplied ) Mr Stuiber did not explain how he obtained this high-level understanding of dog fighting terminology on his profile, page and comments to those posting similar content. "Animal lovers and dumb humans only believe or think a dog is more happy in kennel then outside on a chain!? As the same ppl believed covid19 is real and took the death shots," he replied. Dogs that refuse to fight taken 'back to the corners' Before a fight even begins, dog fighters decide on an agreed weight, the referee, how much the fight is worth and the forfeit amount. Then the "keep" starts — the punishing conditioning period to get the dog in shape. At the fight, owners will bring their own set of scales to make sure they're not tampered with. If the dog comes in over the agreed weight, they'll resort to a few different methods. "If it's a couple of ounces, [they're] going to clip the hair off," Ms Reever says. "If it's a little more [they] may take more drastic measures … using an enema from the drug store or make one [themselves] using unlit matches. "[They'll] insert that into the rectum, and [the dog will] excrete whatever's in their stomachs, and then [they'll] re-weigh the dogs." After flipping a coin to decide what side of the pit they're on, the dog fighters will wash each other's dogs — first with dishwashing liquid and water, and then with milk, Ms Reever says. Milk is used to combat any poisoning agents or drugs put onto a dog to harm their opponent. Once the blood sport begins, dog fighters are prohibited from touching the animals. "The dog may turn away and not want to fight and they'll take them back to the corners and make them fight again," Dr Virginia Maxwell, a professor of forensic science at the University of New Haven, says. "If a dog won't fight, jumps out of the pit, or dies, obviously it's lost." These dogs are being "rolled" — a controlled fight used to build a dog's confidence, assess their qualities, and "weed out" dogs who do not have the qualities they are looking for. ( Supplied ) 'Just a vial' can go for thousands of dollars Dog fighting isn't a poor man's sport, according to Dr Maxwell. The dogs bred from fighting lineages can be sold for thousands of dollars, while fights can be worth hundreds of thousands, she says. "A professional wouldn't be caught dead with the type of dog an amateur street fighter would use," Dr Maxwell says. "If you have a champion or grand champion … just a vial of semen from that dog can bring you between $US2,000 and 3,000." In 2014, Ms Reever worked with the FBI to take down a major dog fighting pit in the United States. The investigation covered five states. "One of the fights was [worth] a million dollars," she says. RSPCA Queensland says it's observed cases of the semen of dogs with fighting lineages sent from Australia to Africa, the US, Sweden, and England. In April, the ABC saw an Australian advertising the semen of a dog with fighting blood for international importation online, claiming its DNA had been frozen for 20 years. Undercover footage of a dog fighting match in Florida, USA. ( Supplied ) In another group, a man said he had bought a pit bull puppy from Australia in 2023 and chartered it to South Africa. The ABC also observed a Spanish breeder advertising an upcoming "project" with an Australian breeder in 2025 using frozen semen. It is unclear what these puppies will be used for, but they have a strong pedigree. Breeders flouting restrictions in Australia Australians aren't only exporting the restricted breed — they're selling them domestically. In Queensland, the breeding and selling of American pit bull terriers is banned. A person must not own or be responsible for a prohibited breed unless they have a reasonable excuse. But the ABC has witnessed the sale of these dogs in private groups where breeders post photos of pedigree documents to prove that bloodlines are linked to notorious fighting lineages. In Queensland, the breeding and selling of American pit bull terriers is banned, but the ABC has witnessed the sale of these dogs in private groups. ( Supplied ) '1500 [dollars], 12 weeks,' one Queensland woman wrote. 'Whaat I was expecting so much more expensive(,) that's really good price hey(.) Shocked they aren't gone yet,' another person replies. The Australian Federal Police was asked it if was aware of links between Australians and those involved in dog fighting abroad. It was also asked about the domestic sale of prospective fighting dogs interstate. Social media posts advertise American pit bull terriers for sale. ( Supplied ) On both issues, the AFP said it had "no comment". A spokesperson from the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said it was not aware "of dogs or canine semen exported from Australia having been declared as American pit bull terriers". The spokesperson said under Australia's export legislation, "if an importing country does not permit the import of a specific breed of dog or its semen, then it cannot be exported from Australia to that country". "Not all countries require breed information or have restrictions on the breeds of dog that can be imported."
ABC News
07-05-2025
- ABC News
VIDEO: ABC investigation reveals the semen of Australian fighting dogs is being sold overseas
Warning: This story contains graphic images and content involving animal cruelty. The frozen semen of dogs with fighting bloodlines is being sold to overseas buyers for what experts say is thousands of dollars, as an ABC investigation reveals international links between the illegal blood sport and Australia.
