LADSON, S.C. (WCIV) — An investigation into the death of an infant last month led to dog fighting charges. Charleston County deputies were called to Ladson, where they found enough evidence to charge 41-year-old Sandy Gathers.
“Charleston Animal Society actually ended up providing support on scene, veterinary support during this investigation,” says Alwin Roman, vice president and chief operating officer of the Charleston Animal Society.
Sandy Sharron Gathers is charged with two counts of animal fighting and baiting, one count of conspiracy, and 15 counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a crime. Two animals rescued from the scene were placed with the Charleston Animal Society.
“Our responsibility is to provide that initial assessment and care to make sure we’re treating any injuries, any illnesses, [and] to make sure we’re providing their medical attention. And especially dogs from cases like this, we assess their behavior,” Roman says.
READ MORE: “Dead infant leads to discovery of dog fighting at a Ladson home: CCSO.”
Because of the ongoing investigation, the dogs aren’t able to be put up for adoption, leaving an already overcrowded shelter stretched thin.
“Even with just two dogs, that’s two dogs right now that we cannot move, we cannot adopt. We are in a crisis. We’re actually doing free adoptions for adult dogs because we literally do not have an open kennel to put a dog in. We want them to do these investigations, but it does put quite a burden on animal shelters,” adds Roman.
Under South Carolina state law, CAS has to examine the dog’s behavior, where it can often be too late for those animals bred for violence.
“The way the South Carolina Dangerous Animal Act is written, it’s whether an animal’s provoked,” Roman says. “Are these dogs attacking or being aggressive because they’re being provoked, or are they just aggressive from the second they see another animal? And that’s what we’re trying to gauge. It’s not black and white. We don’t know what they’re thinking, so we do have to err on the side of caution, just because the potential for risk and danger is so high. If someone who’s been doing this for years, and breeding generation after generation, it’s much harder and oftentimes, it’s just not possible to fix that. This isn’t something you rehabilitate.”
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