A Folsom man and his mother have been arrested and accused of running an operation to train dogs for fighting, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office said.
The Sheriff’s Office said a nearby resident flagged down deputies Monday afternoon to report a case of possible animal abuse in the 12000 block of South Hay Hollow Road. Deputies found 28 severely malnourished dogs, which the Sheriff’s Office said appear to be pit bulls, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Tuesday.
Most of the dogs showed signs of having been involved in dogfighting, the news release said. Deputies also found training equipment and medication often associated with dogfighting, as well as an illegal machine pistol.
St. Tammany Parish Animal Control workers were called in to help gather the dogs.
The Sheriff’s Office said Austin Alexander, 23, was arrested and will be booked on 28 counts of dogfighting and training and possession of dogs for fighting.
Natia Alexander, 45, was arrested and will be booked on principal to 28 counts of dogfighting and training and possession of dogs for fighting.
“Dogfighting and training dogs to fight is illegal and is a horrific and egregious act of animal cruelty,” Sheriff Randy Smith said in the news release. “It will not be tolerated in our parish and if you are caught fighting dogs or training dogs to fight you will be arrested.”
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
