- North Carolina, USA -
Following reports of dogfighting submitted by residents to Gaston County Animal Care & Enforcement, an investigation was launched conducted by the agency along with the Gaston County Police Department.
The Department wrote in a Facebook post that for months they have been investigating the illegal activity in the 500 block of Queens Road in Gastonia.
According to police, on the early morning of Wednesday, June 2, a search warrant was served on the property under investigation and officials were able to locate the suspected dogfighter organizer.
The individual has been identified as 50-year-old RICO PAGAN (pictured below), of 531 Queens Road in Gastonia.
This human trash was taken into custody and charged with three felonious counts of dogfighting.
Police say PAGAN was additionally charged with twelve felonious counts of animal cruelty.
He is currently incarcerated in the Gaston County Jail on a $125,000 bond awaiting his first appearance in court.
The Humane Society of the United States Animal Rescue and Response Team are part of this investigation and were on the scene assisting with rescuing the dogs.
Gail Thomssen, North Carolina director for the Humane Society of the United States, said: “It is gut-wrenching to imagine the violence and pain these dogs have been forced to endure. We are thankful to the Gaston County Police Department for answering the call to get these dogs desperately-needed help. Thanks to everyone involved, this is the last day that these dogs will have to live like this.”
WCNC reports that officials found about ten dogs on the property.
The poor souls were found covered in fleas and with visible scarring, consistent with injuries typically seen in dogfighting cases.
The furbabies were being kept outside on heavy, weighted chains and did not have access to adequate shelter: only blue barrels and dilapidated wooden shacks.
Ms. Janette Reever, who is the senior manager of dog fighting investigations for The Humane Society International, told WCNC: “Some of the dogs did have fresh injuries and wounds, a lot of the dogs had ears that were literally eaten away by flies and the gnats.”
Ms. Reever said: “One of the dogs, when we took his collar off and this huge chain, we took it off and his body literally, you just feel him put his whole body into the detective hands. It's as if they know they are being rescued.”
She then added: “It takes a really just despicable person to exploit these dogs like this.”
Captain Billy Downey at Gaston County Police Department told WCNC: “This is a very difficult case to investigate. If it wasn't for the community calling and expressing their concerns, finding evidence in and around the neighborhood, the area of what was going on, I don't know if we would be able to be were [where] we are today.”
Police say this is an active and on-going investigation and encourage anyone with information about this case to contact Detective J. P. Brienza at (704) - 866 - 3320 or Crimestoppers at 704 - 861 - 8000.
Information leading to the identification, arrest and/or prosecution of additional suspect(s) involved in this incident can result in up to a $1,000 reward.
I loathe those involved in dogfighting, both organizers and spectators!
They are evil. They do not have a heart or soul because I cannot understand how they can find pleasure in watching innocent dogs forced to fight each other, hurt each other, and injure each other.
If you like fights, fight each other, fight your friends and family and leave INNOCENT ANIMALS ALONE!!!
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