Ten dogs housed at the Smith County Animal Control were euthanized on Monday, months after they were rescued from an alleged dogfighting ring.
The dogs were among the 11 remaining from the criminal case involving suspects Kerry Jermon Isiah Jones, 34, and his brother Michael Cameron Jones, 31, who are accused of running a suspected dogfighting ring in Tyler.
Since the September bust, the shelter struggled to find placement for the dogs, ultimately euthanizing most to create more space in an already crowded shelter. One dog was pulled by a rescue group just before the others were put down.
“After several efforts to get adopters and rescues were unsuccessful, it was the last option we had,” said Animal Control Supervisor Amber Greene. “We had several dogs that were here for six months with absolutely no interest at all.”
The case dates back to Sept. 9, 2024, when nearly 60 dogs were seized from a suspected dogfighting operation at a mobile home on County Road 4136. Among them, six in critical condition were taken in by Dr. Gary Spence and his team at Spence and White Veterinary Hospital for urgent medical care.
Animal control officers arrived at the 9-acre property to find dozens of injured dogs. Some were confined in cages or makeshift kennels, while others were chained in the yard. Several were found in a shed, tied to treadmills with heavy weights around their necks, forced to “work out” in stifling conditions, according to police documents. The shed had no ventilation or air conditioning, putting the dogs at risk of heat stroke or death, an investigator wrote in an arrest affidavit.
To view animals available for adoption at Smith County Animal Control, visit www.smith-county.com/government/departments/animal-control/animal-listings. For those interested in adopting, Smith County Animal Control is located at 322 East Ferguson St. in Tyler. The shelter is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Adoption applications can be submitted in person or emailed to shelter@smith-county.com. For more information, call 903-266-4303.
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