Exclusive: Dog Fighting Operation Busted
MILWAUKEE – Police have busted a suspected dog fighting operation in Milwaukee.
The accused ring leader now faces some serious charges.
Steve Blackmon was in court at the Milwaukee County Courthouse Thursday.
Police searched his home and say they found several injured dogs, plus evidence of a dog fighting ring. Some of that evidence: dogs with cut up faces, and half a dozen cages and fighting rings.
Investigators say it all points to a dog fighting operation Blackmon named "Grim Reaper Kennels." He allegedly ran the operation out of his basement.
The director at Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control says it's an all too common problem.
“It's certainly grown. It's grown nationwide,” Melanie Sobel said.
Click on the link under related content to see an interview with Sobel.
Animal Control rescued six adult pit bulls and five puppies. According to the criminal complaint, “at least two of the dogs had heavy scaring and recent injury to the head and front leg areas."
“A lot of times they are brutalized,” Sobel said.
Police found the suspected fight ring when they busted Blackmon for allegedly running a drug house.
He also faces drug charges.
Sometimes the dogs will be put up for adoption but unfortunately in this situation all 11 dogs and puppies were euthanized.
Blackmon will be back in court in November.
Animal Control says it’s hard to place these dogs in a good home because they've been trained to fight since they were puppies.
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Milwaukee has some
screwy regulations, but I don't understand why they were so quick to euthanize these animals. Charges against the owner are pending, but he hasn't been convicted. Typically aren't the animals held as "evidence?"