GA: Marshals confiscate alleged fighting dogs

Marshals confiscate alleged fighting dogs
Two men face aggravated animal cruelty charges

Last updated: February 05. 2015 11:51AM
By Matthew Strother

Two West Point men face multiple charges, including aggravated cruelty to animals, for allegedly running a dog-fighting training ground.

Shaquille D. Dashon Heard of Higgins Street and Demarquee Jenkins of East 11th Street are accused of having a dog-fighting training area with 10 pit bull mix dogs tied up in the woods beside a house in the 100 block of Billings Road and another dog in the back of a home. Troup County marshals found and confiscated the 11 dogs Friday.

The two suspects allegedly told marshals at the scene that they were the dogs' owners. They had not been arrested as of press time today, but the Troup County Marshal's Office issued warrants for their arrest Monday evening each on two counts of aggravated animal cruelty and two counts of dog fighting.

More warrants are expected in the case, which is still under investigation, said Chief Marshal Lonza Edmondson.

Marshals found the dogs after a report from Troup County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Jon Whitney, who received information from West Point police of a large number of dogs in the area. West Point police, Troup County Sheriff's deputies and LaGrange animal control officers accompanied the marshals to the area. Deputies and police provided security as marshals investigated, and LaGrange animal control helped transport the dogs.

In a report, marshal's deputy Marcus Rakestraw said he heard dogs barking at the end of Billings Road near Shoemaker Road and found the dogs chained up at a gas pipeline. Edmondson told the Daily News the dogs had healed wounds on their front legs and faces, torn ears and teeth filed to be more sharp, which are indications they had been used for fighting. Rakestraw said some of the dogs' tails had been chewed off.

Marshals also located medicine and syringes used to treat the dogs' wounds, Edmondson said. In the woods there also was a ring possibly used to train the alleged fighting dogs. Marshals took down and confiscated the ring.

Rakestraw said the dogs were chained with heavy-duty lumber chains, including one animal that only weighed about 30 pounds. He suspects the location was used to train the animals to be taken to other locations for fights.

The marshals said dog fights are typically arranged covertly and with about a day's notice, then the animals are shipped to a location where the fight will take place. Edmondson said the local alleged ring may have been related to a dog-fighting operation busted in Meriwether County last week.

Marshal's deputy Bubba Oubre said the dogs were gentle and nice to people, but were aggressive toward each other.

Edmondson said the American Society for Prevention to Cruelty for Animals, or ASPCA, had been contacted to come relocate the dogs. The dogs were evaluated by a veterinarian and would be held at an undisclosed location.

Edmondson said more arrests may come out of the case.



Troup County deputy marshal Marcus Rakestraw holds a heavy-duty chain that he said was used to chain a 30-pound pit bull mix in the woods off Shoemaker Road. Marshals confiscated 11 dogs from the area they believe to be part of a dog-fighting training ground.

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