Animal rescue euthanizes badly abused dog
A badly-abused dog that was being cared for by an animal rescue in the Phoenix area has been euthanized.
Fox – 10 Phoenix
An Oklahoma man is facing more than two dozen charges in connection with an illegal dog fighting camp where law enforcement seized 18 dogs, the Justice Department announced.
Federal prosecutors filed charges against Julius Deane Griffin, 43, after authorities removed 17 live dogs and one dead dog from his Tulsa home, the department said. They added that some of the dogs had missing body parts and open wounds that police said were from dog fighting.
Among the charges are 23 counts of illegal dog fighting and illegal possession, training, transport, delivery, sale and receipt of dogs intended to be used in an animal fighting venture.
The removed dogs are being cared for by Tulsa Animal Services, U.S. Marshal Service National Seized Animal Program and the Humane Society of Tulsa. Federal prosecutors said all 17 dogs were presumed to be American pit bull terriers.
Dog combat is a rampant problem across the country, experts previously told USA TODAY. The fights are considered a felony crime in all 50 states. The Justice Department said in a report that professional fighting pits started opening up just after the Civil War.
“The allegations against Griffin are disturbing,” U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma Clint Johnson said. “Prior to Griffin’s arrest, prosecutors partnered with animal rescue agencies that specialize in treating and caring for dogs seized from illegal dog operations.”
Beyond the animal fighting allegations, prosecutors said several law enforcement agencies found ammunition, gun magazines, more than $16,000 in cash, dog fighting trophies, dog treadmills, Narcan, steroids, dog medication and more than 700 grams of mushrooms, among other things. No information was available on if Griffin gave the dogs steroids.
Prosecutors noted that this isn’t Griffin’s first run-in with dog fighting. He was convicted in 2005 for his involvement in a dog-fighting ring that had more than 40 dogs.
Homeland security investigators “will go to no end to pursue criminals who inflict harm and exploit innocent animals for their deviant entertainment and financial gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard Homeland Security Investigations Dallas. “Our investigations into illegal dog-fighting rings are vital to public safety as these types of criminal activities are often precursors into other organized criminal activity such as drug trafficking and money laundering.”
Prosecutors: Griffin had injured, malnourished dogs on his property
According to court papers, Griffin ran two dog fighting rings in Oklahoma, one called West Camp and another called “Something Tight Kennel” since 2023.
A Homeland Security Investigations officer wrote that Griffin’s Facebook account showed he often discussed and advertised his dog combat business to others. They said Griffin was part of at least seven dog combat groups on Facebook. The groups have a total of 124,510 members.
In one video, Griffin duct-taped a dog’s mouth shut and allowed another dog to attack, according to court papers. The dog with duct tape died from the fight. Another video on his Facebook account showed a young child, whom investigators presumed to be a toddler, cheering for a dog in a fight.
“Griffin is observed on multiple videos participating in dog fights and training dogs to fight,” according to court papers. “Additionally, photographs and videos revealed Griffin’s training materials, treadmills, steroids, and other equipment used in the training of his fighting dogs.”
Federal prosecutors wrote that animal control opened a formal investigation into Griffin and his treatment of the dogs in February and March. Officers visited his home after witnesses reported seeing Griffin burn and bury deceased dogs. At the home, animal control found at least 10 malnourished, bleeding dogs on Griffin’s property.
Underground dog fighting brings harm hundreds of canines
Dog fights gained international scrutiny after NFL quarterback Michael Vick admitted in 2007 to participating in the mélées. Prosecutors often pursue cases in which investigators have seized more than 100 dogs found in poor condition.
Former NFL player LaShon Johnson, of Oklahoma, was charged in March in connection with a 190-dog combat ring. Prosecutors wrote that Johnson bred dogs for fights and sold stud rights to buyers.
In February, a U.S. District Court judge in Georgia sentenced Vincent Lemark Burrell to 475 years in prison after he was found guilty of 93 counts of dog fighting and 10 counts of animal abuse. Local police executed a search warrant at Burrell’s home and found 107 dogs.
Jessica Rock, Georgia’s leading prosecutor for animal crimes, told USA TODAY that dog fighting rings are more common than people think. She added that many people chain up dogs and leave them all day, letting them loose only to fight or breed. The combats are arduous, lasting anywhere between one to three hours, and some will continue until a dog is killed.
She added that dogs rescued from the rings can be trained as normal pets.
“What I see a lot of times is when we go and we take these dogs off these chains, and we get them into a new environment and they’re totally different dogs,” Rock said. “It’s like they realize they’ve been saved, and they say ‘OK, I’m not living that life anymore. I can be a dog now, right?'”
Contact reporter Krystal Nurse at knurse@USATODAY.com. Follow her on X @KrystalRNurse, and on BlueSky @krystalrnuse.bsky.social.
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