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FacebookCounty, court at odds about what to do with 72 confiscated pit bulls
Thursday, January 18, 2007
DAYTON — Montgomery County officials say they want to destroy the 72 American pit bulls confiscated in dogfighting investigations of five Dayton men last year.
In December, County Prosecutor Mathias Heck's office asked for court approval to do so.
Extras
But late last week, the county withdrew that motion, saying the case was not properly before the court and noting that there had been no defense request to preserve the animals for "evidentiary value."
Carley Ingram, chief of the prosecutor's appellate division, would not comment on whether she believes the county can destroy the dogs without court permission, but she said euthanizing them would not impair the defense.
John H. Rion, who represents two of the men charged, said the defendants want to keep the dogs alive. After the county withdrew its motion, attorneys for all five filed requests to preserve the evidence.
The Dayton men facing felony dogfighting and other charges are Ennis P. Lungs, 41; Eric A. Lewis, 44; Simon J. Denby, 33; Louis Snowden-Davis, 37; and Donyell C. Moschetti, 35.
No trial date has been set.
Meanwhile, the dogs remain caged at the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center. When county officials invited the media to visit the shelter and see the dogs on Wednesday, Rion accused county officials of attempting to "contaminate" jurors.
"They're trying to prejudice a jury with their dog and pony show," Rion said. "I think they're trying to accomplish two things. One, contaminate the jury pool, and try to get some grass-roots support for the genocide (of the dogs)."
Laura Kursman, spokeswoman for the county, said the invitations were an effort to efficiently respond to media requests about the case. Resource Center Director Mark Kumpf said publicity about the dogs has helped raise awareness and calls to the center about abuse of animals.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7455 or lhulsey@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Comments
By CB
January 20, 2007 07:07 PM | Link to this
In Cincy there is a trainging facility called Last Resort K-9 Academy that will evaluate each of the 72 dogs individually, and carefully select which dogs could be rehabbed. Last Resort specializes in rehabilitating aggressive dogs and finding proper placement for them. If the author of the article would like to do something positive like helping the dogs (instead of proliferating the ridiculous pitt stereotype) Last Resort K-9 Academy can be contacted at 513-621-1300 (owned by The PAC I think?)
By Captain
January 20, 2007 03:08 AM | Link to this
There are several cases that I read. Did any one see these dogs fighting ? Did the police or humane society catch anyone abusing the dogs in a criminal way .Do we know for sure they were trained to fight?????? People we all know that the media and papers elavate the best stories or news to get ratings .Can a dog trainer like THE DOG WHISPER really change an aggressive pitbull? He has several in his pack.There are always 2 sides to a story. We’ve only heard 1.
By Kristen
January 19, 2007 03:48 PM | Link to this
Fighting dogs are made, not born. Any dog can be trained to fight, not just pit bulls. All this article does is perpetuate the stereotype that they are evil, killer dogs. This should be used as an educational story but it wasn’t. I have a pit mix who was rescued from a crack house and she has been the best dog I’ve ever owned, but people still think she will bite them out of the blue and are scared of her.
By Gabriela Zoller
January 19, 2007 02:31 PM | Link to this
Rather than capitulating to anti-pit bull hysteria by using loaded language like “terrorize,” or detailing the damage the dogs have done to their cages, your story could have emphasized the wrong done to these animals by those who have bred them for fighting. You missed an excellent opportunity to enlighten your readers about the terrible, and illegal, world of dog fighting, including the abuse and neglect these dogs, and others like them, face.
By Suzie
January 19, 2007 02:08 PM | Link to this
I think before they chose to uthenize these dogs they should call Cesar Millan (the dog whisperer) and see if he can help[(323) 235-3431]. With rehabilitation, fighting will not be the only life they ever know. These dogs deserve to be dogs, they deserve a chance at life! Their “keepers” deserve much less!
By Elmer Bray
January 19, 2007 01:53 PM | Link to this
The people who decides this issue,should search their consience ,then make the right decesion.I hate to see an animal destroyed like most all rational thinking people.We need to take steps to prevent this type of situation from ocuring. And YES these offenders need to be prosecuter to the fullest extent of the law. It will be interesting to see what kind of a backbone that our Dayton Judical System Posesses.
By Elmer Bray
January 19, 2007 01:53 PM | Link to this
The people who decides this issue,should search their consience ,then make the right decesion.I hate to see an animal destroyed like most all rational thinking people.We need to take steps to prevent this type of situation from ocuring. And YES these offenders need to be prosecuter to the fullest extent of the law. It will be interesting to see what kind of a backbone that our Dayton Judical System Posesses.
By KS
January 19, 2007 12:02 PM | Link to this
This is one of the saddest situations I have ever seen. The dogs are getting better care now than they have ever had but the fact is they are probably just confinded there waiting to die. A humaine death is not the worst thing in the world ! Everyone will be a looser in this but the men that have brought about the situation.
By Debbi
January 19, 2007 09:46 AM | Link to this
Cesar Milan, the dog whisperer
By RM
January 19, 2007 08:37 AM | Link to this
I too feel that these dogs need to be put down. I’m confused as to why they weren’t in the first place. They were seized so long ago and the threat has been there since then. In other cases animals have been ordered to be put down even if the owner didn’t want it. Why wait now and cost the county so much money? People have obviously been hurt by these dogs in the shelter. I love animals, but I don’t put an animal’s life above a human. That is when it is nonsense. Just my opinion.
By Dave Myers
January 19, 2007 01:14 AM | Link to this
GONZO I AM GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS POSTED SUCH A HEARTLESS AND SICKENING MESSAGE!
By Dave Myers
January 19, 2007 01:03 AM | Link to this
GONZO YOU ARE A MORON I HAVE A 13 YEAR OLD PIT BULL ALONG WITH 2 CATS WHICH SHE WOULD NEVER HARM, I FOUND THE DOG AND TOOK HER IN WHEN SHE WAS ALMOST 1 YR. OLD AND SHES BEEN THE BEST PET EVER.SO GET A CLUE ITS NOT THE BREED ITS THE OWNER!
By BDL
January 18, 2007 11:16 PM | Link to this
This is so sad. I hate to see any animal euthanized but sometimes it is necessary. My daughter has a Bull Terrier who is the most loving and affectionate dog I have seen. I too always thought pit bulls were always dangerous and mean but since Reno came into the family I have changed my mind. My daughter and son-in-law rescued this dog as a puppy from an acquaintance who was planning on training him for fighting. Any dog trained and has been in fights should be euthanized. They are not safe!
By Richard
January 18, 2007 11:13 PM | Link to this
Fighting dogs are made, not bred. If they are fighting dogs, put them down. There are too many good animals at the shelter that need adopted, and it is a waste of money to keep these animals, dogs no sane person would adopt, alive, at the expense of keeping animals that could be adopted. It is not the animals’ fault, but the owners. Tragically, the animals will pay the price. We may not want to admit it, but dog fighting goes on in Ohio, and this has to stop.
By RON WHITE
January 18, 2007 09:52 PM | Link to this
IT IS A SHAME THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE LIKE THIS. THEY TAKE A GOOD PUP AND RAISE THEM TO FIGHT, HOW CAN THESE IDIOTS LIVE WITH THEM SELVES “THEY ARE THE SCUM OF THE PLANET”. PUT THEM IN THE CAGES WITH THE DOGS AND IF THE DOGS THAT THEY TRAINED DON’T DO THE JOB THE FIRST TIME,THROW THEM BACK IN AGAIN. THEN WASH WHAT IS LEFT DROWN THE DRAIN TO THE SEWER.
By b
January 18, 2007 09:34 PM | Link to this
Diane…Get a clue. Rehabilitate dogs that were brought up and raised to fight? I have been in the shelter and have seen the dogs. I am an animal lover. Should we waste more taxpayer dollars in a effort to rehab dogs that can’t be rehabed just to take the chance in having an adopted pet turn on its new owner. How about you spend money out of your pocket to take a chance with the dogs. Let me know how that works out for you. This is like saying that we can rehab terrorists to love America.
By Diane
January 18, 2007 09:21 PM | Link to this
All day I have been haunted by the image of a pile of 72 dead dogs. I am sickened by the situation. Surely some of those tortured creatures can be rehabilitated? Dogfighting is barbaric; killing 72 healthy dogs is barbaric.
By MC
January 18, 2007 09:13 PM | Link to this
I think they should be put down, they are not really pets, they are being used as a weapon of sorts. The owners should be fined to the max and have to pay the county for their care.
By kenny j
January 18, 2007 07:41 PM | Link to this
As much as i love animals, putting them down is the humane thing to do. Once they are turned to vicious fighting; thats the only life they will ever know, since they are tortured during training. I suggest you put the men in the pen with their own dog and see if the dog is still truely mans best friend! Somehow i doubt it!
By Amy Bowman
January 18, 2007 07:28 PM | Link to this
When raised and cared for properly these dogs are actually a very loving breed. Do your homework before you start speaking of outlawing them. This whole situation saddens me. I am sure out of the 72 dogs there some are worse than others. In those cases yes maybe they should be put down. However, some still may have a chance of rehabilitation.
By Captain
January 18, 2007 07:13 PM | Link to this
Indeed a sad situation.I Love people and dogs ,so when I read these opinions I feel bad for the dogs as well as the owners.I’ve been following this story since July.I beleive as American citizens and as our Constitutional Rights state Inocent Untill Proven Guilty Yes/NO?Many quetions have not been answered yet.As a retired vet engaging in one so called conflict and a war, I will not phantom the ideal that through all our transgressions of revolutions,wars that we will allow freedoms violated.
By Captain
January 18, 2007 07:10 PM | Link to this
Indeed a sad situation.I Love people and dogs ,so when I read these opinions I feel bad for the dogs as well as the owners.I’ve been following this story since July.I beleive as American citizens and as our Constitutional Rights state”Inocent Untill Proven Guilty”Yes/NO?Many quetions have not been answered yet.As a retired vet engaging in one so called”conflict”and a war, I will not phantom the ideal that through all our transgressions of revolutions,wars that we will allow freedoms violated.
By Charles
January 18, 2007 07:07 PM | Link to this
I agree with Irish. Including euthanizing the so called men.
By Michael
January 18, 2007 06:54 PM | Link to this
I dont understand how jackasses raise these beautiful dogs to fight each other. I have one and it runs from a rat terrier real vicious huh. Its all in how they are raised. Its the medias and stupid peoples fault they are categorized as vicious. Give me a friggin break.
By henry
January 18, 2007 06:49 PM | Link to this
with all do respect to all animal lovers everywhere, people do what they’ve seen and believe to be acceptable. in their circle,( family and/or acquaintances) their behavior is acceptable. if they train animals to be vicious it’s because they have inner conflict they may or may not recognize. you may not realize this but who are raised in at risk communities are more likely to be accepting of this behavior. i wish people cared as much about these left behind, forgotten and neglected human beings.
By henry
January 18, 2007 06:44 PM | Link to this
with all do respect to all animal lovers everywhere, people do what they’ve seen and believe to be acceptable. in their circle,( family and/or acquaintances) their behavior is acceptable. if they train animals to be vicious it’s because they have inner conflict they may or may not recognize. you may not realize this but who are raised in at risk communities are more likely to be accepting of this behavior. i wish people cared as much about these left behind, forgotten and neglected human beings.
By kj
January 18, 2007 06:18 PM | Link to this
Not all pitbulls are bad, they just have a bad reputation because of idiots like these. German Shepards are the worst and they are used for police work!
By kj
January 18, 2007 06:13 PM | Link to this
Send them to Ceasar Millan, He deals with this type of dog.
By AO
January 18, 2007 06:08 PM | Link to this
How can people be so cruel? How anyone could participate by either watching or betting on an illegal dog fight in the beyond me. Maybe they should chain the dogs owners up and throw them in the cage with the dogs for amusement… Seriously, though they should videotape all the dogs as evidence and then humanely as possible put them down - they have suffered enough.
By gonzo
January 18, 2007 06:03 PM | Link to this
simple kill them ,and outlaw the breed. they are a danger to society.
By gonzo
January 18, 2007 06:01 PM | Link to this
simple kill them ,and outlaw the breed. they are a danger to society.
By gonzo
January 18, 2007 06:00 PM | Link to this
simple kill them ,and outlaw the breed. they are a danger to society.
By Judith
January 18, 2007 05:47 PM | Link to this
Anyone caught with a vicious dog should be made to kill the animal themselves as part of their jail term/fines.
By hall
January 18, 2007 05:21 PM | Link to this
And of course we have Mr Publicity, John Rion (or is it his son this time), proclaiming that putting these dogs down would be ‘genocide’. I guess it sounds good saying it to a reporter or reading it in the paper. Mr Rion, please look up the definition of ‘genocide’ and try again…
By MH
January 18, 2007 04:15 PM | Link to this
This is a very sad situation. These dogs need to be euthanized. I agree with Mr. Heck. There is no legal need for these dogs to be kept alive. They are only putting the workers in danger and costing tax payers money. Pictures and affidavits are enough. Maybe Mr. Rion should personally pay for the cost of taking care of these dogs since he says that being kept alive is needed for the defense.
By David
January 18, 2007 03:49 PM | Link to this
Yes, these animals should be put down, humanely as possible. They’re not adoptable and it’s not economically feasible to expect taxpayers to continue to foot the bill for housing them. It’s time to process the dogs.
By JP
January 18, 2007 03:47 PM | Link to this
These dogs should be put down. They are not adoptable. The are inbred and have many behavioral issues. The owners should not be allowed to get dogs back due to the crimnal nature of their activity.
By lily
January 18, 2007 03:15 PM | Link to this
With so many beautiful adoptable pets needing homes, it seems strange to feed and house animals that must eventually be destroyed. My suggestion is to video these dogs just as they are in their cages for the courts, and then as gently as possible put them to sleep. Sad but what other choice is there?
By TJ
January 18, 2007 03:05 PM | Link to this
I’m really getting sick of these thugs raising pit bulls to maul and be vicious towards each other. In turn, they will be vicious towards humans.
By TJ
January 18, 2007 03:05 PM | Link to this
I’m really getting sick of these thugs raising pit bulls to maul and be vicious towards each other. In turn, they will be vicious towards humans.
By TJ
January 18, 2007 03:05 PM | Link to this
I’m really getting sick of these thugs raising pit bulls to maul and be vicious towards each other. In turn, they will be vicious towards humans.
By Irish
January 18, 2007 03:02 PM | Link to this
What a horribly sad situation. I’m a huge animal lover, but I believe these poor animals need to be euthanized, for the safety of everyone involved, and the “people” charged with doing this to them should meet the same fate, once their bill is paid to the County.