On Saturday evening in Pontiac, Michigan law enforcement officials along with rescue volunteers and others raided a home that was part of a suspected dog fighting ring.  The raid shut down an entire street for hours until all of the dogs on the property could be removed.

Police that were on the scene described it as a “horrifically cruel operation.”  Along with the dogs that were removed from the property, many items that are usually associated with dog fighting and training dogs to fight were also removed and taken into evidence.

Paul Church, a resident of the street the raid took place on said, “I was in the house listening to the radio and I heard a big flash bang.  I put some shoes on and ran outside and all you could see is SWAT teams and cops.”  Although Church has lived almost all of his life in the immediate area, he says he’s never seen anything like it in his life.

Mark James, also a resident of the street said, “They only lived there six months or so.  [We] Saw all the dogs moving in and out of there.  We assumed something was going on.”

The person renting the home has not yet been named.  However law enforcement did say the renter is a convicted felon.  This person has a history of getting into trouble for dog fighting and narcotics.  Others arrested in connection with the fighting ring are said to have driven three or more hours to participate in the barbaric fights.

Remember to check back with us for more information as it is released.

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Hewitt Grant II of Bartow, Florida had been found guilty of 84 counts of animal cruelty related to dog fighting earlier this month.  He was given 20 years in prison after violating a court order by Circuit Judge Wayne Durden stating that Grant could no longer have dogs.

All of this comes after Grant was found guilty back in 2007 on 80 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty charges, again stemming from dog fighting.  He was given 364 days in jail, but in 2008 his lawyers found a way to weasel him out on a technicality pertaining to an illegal search of Grant’s property.

Even though the charges against him at the time were dropped, he was still slapped with a court order to never be “in possession” of a dog for the rest of his life.  An order Grant seemed too willing to violate.

Judge Durden said that Grant’s attitude and willingness to violate that court order is directly what gave him the 20 years in jail he’s now facing.

According to Judge Durden, “The defendant went out of his way to egregiously violate the injunction by his conduct in this case.”  He then went on to say that Grant’s actions of cruelty against helpless animals as reprehensible.  “This is based on evidence of what I saw of those dogs in this case,” said Judge Durden.  “Their scars on their heads, faces and bodies.”

Grant did testify on his own behalf, along with several other family members and his church leaders.  Grant begged for leniency, stating that he’d use it to fix his relationships with his family, especially his two children.

Pastor Michael Littlejohn, one of the ministers from Grant’s church spoke on his behalf at the trial sentencing.  He said, “”I couldn’t help but think of Michael Vick and all the potential he has.”

The prosecution called on many witnesses at the hearing.  They brought fourth persons from animal control and the local SPCA that were there when Grant’s property was raided.  They recounted both what they saw and how it made them feel back in October when the raid took place.

Donna Seiler, field supervisor with the sheriff’s office said, “”The name Hewitt Grant brings back bad memories I’d like to forget.”

Assistant State Attorney Carson Bassett said that Grant was tormenting these dogs for his own pleasure.

“The dogs didn’t ask for this and didn’t put themselves in this situation,” Bassett said before the sentence was handed down. “You can send a message to Hewitt Grant and all others involved in dog fighting.”

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Sweet Pea is a former bait dog that has been rescued.  She will be the first of hopefully many former fighting dogs that will benefit from the “New Leash on Life USA Program” aimed at giving these dogs a second chance at a good life.

The program will be using prison inmates to train these dogs.  Not only is it good for the dog to know that not every human out there is going to abuse, but it helps with the inmates as well.

The inmates will be with the dogs 4 hours a day, for a total of 12 weeks.  After that, Sweet Pea will be taking the Canine Good Citizen test, which will dictate how well suited to being adopted out to family she is.

“Sweet Pea tugs at the hearts of everyone she meets,” said Kathy McGuire. McGuire is the president and founder of NJ Aid for Animals.  “We understand the trauma and hardship the dogs we rescue have endured.  NJ Aid for Animals looks at the whole dog – body, mind, and spirit.  We’re confident the New Leash on Life USA program will bring out the best in [Sweet Pea].”

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