Dogfighting rears its ugly head in Rome, GA

June 12, 5:38 AMAtlanta Dogs ExaminerSandy Weaver Carman

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Yesterday Floyd County officials raided a home near Rome, GA.  They had been tipped off several weeks ago that the property was being used to raise and train dogs for the purpose of fighting them.  

After investigating the tip, the raid was set up, netting two men, Marcus Beasley and Dominique Porter, who were taken to jail.  The owner of the home wasn't there at the time, but is expected to be arrested and charged.  Beasley and Porter were both charged with dogfighting and cruelty to animals.  Porter has a previous arrest on those same charges, stemming from a bust in January.

Authorities removed 15 adult pit bulls and six puppies from the property.  The dogs were found to have inadequate shelter, tethered to dangerous chains, living in their own feces and without clean water.  One of the dogs is being treated by a veterinarian for fairly recent injuries consistent with having been in a dog fight.  The rest are in the custody of Floyd County officials.

In Georgia, the penalties for being involved in dogfighting have been stiffened since the Michael Vick case brought the brutal "sport" to national attention.  Under the new law, it's a felony to own a dog for fighting, to bet on a dog fight, or to allow a dog fight on one's premise. It also makes it a misdemeanor on the first offense and a felony on subsequent offenses to be a spectator at a dog fight.  Under the old Georgia statutes, law enforcement officers had to actually bust offenders at a dog fight to charge them with dogfighting, but the new legislation takes a "reasonable man" view of what a dogfighting kennel would look like when an actual fight isn't underway.  This makes it much easier for officials to make their case than in the past.  Georgia's new law is considered one of the best in the country for protecting dogs and prosecuting criminals.

If you would like to support good legislation for dogs and dog owners in the state of Georgia, please become a member of the Georgia Canine Coalition, the organization credited with helping to craft, draft and pass the current anti-dogfighting law.  The GCC works year-round to ensure that laws placed on the books here in Georgia are favorable to dogs and their owners.  Anyone who cares about dogs and wants good dog laws, not abusive ones, should be a member of the GCC.

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