Signs Found of Possible ArkLaTex Dog Fighting
By: Jenna Zibton
Updated: October 7, 2009
A DeSoto parish man is behind bars for aggravated cruelty to animals. 15 dogs were found at his house in Frierson, LA.
Gregory Samuel's father called in a theft complaint to the DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office but when deputies arrived to investigate they found fourteen pit bulls and one German Shepherd. "Noticed that their health was bad, you could see their spine, you could see their pelvis area, their ribs, some of them their skeletal features were visible" says Webster Parish Corporal Adam Ewing.
They brought the dogs to the Caddo Parish animal shelter because there is not an animal shelter in DeSoto Parish. Shelter Director Stanton Edmunds says "We're doing everything we can to make their stay as comfortable as possible."
Meanwhile, Samuels is charged with fifteen counts of aggravated cruelty to an animal, but there may be evidence of dog fighting. "The kind of collars they had on for their protection, and scaring on their face and their legs can indicate that" says Corp. Ewing but continues it is still early in the investigation.
During the dog seizure, detectives uncovered a dog house on property. Inside, they found skeletal remains of dog along with a collar and chains on the ground. "Basically the dog died in the house, and they never even bothered to bury it."
The dogs found on Samuel's property range in age from six months to five years old and Corp. Ewing says it is aggravating when he sees things like this. "I don't understand why they do this. Why have something if you can't take care of it, it's something i've seen with horses and livestock, even kids. If you're going to have something just take care of it."
Corp. Ewing says there may be more dogs at another location and more charges could be filed against Samuels. Ewing says they will be working on the case for the rest of the week.
Gregory Samuel's father called in a theft complaint to the DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office but when deputies arrived to investigate they found fourteen pit bulls and one German Shepherd. "Noticed that their health was bad, you could see their spine, you could see their pelvis area, their ribs, some of them their skeletal features were visible" says Webster Parish Corporal Adam Ewing.
They brought the dogs to the Caddo Parish animal shelter because there is not an animal shelter in DeSoto Parish. Shelter Director Stanton Edmunds says "We're doing everything we can to make their stay as comfortable as possible."
Meanwhile, Samuels is charged with fifteen counts of aggravated cruelty to an animal, but there may be evidence of dog fighting. "The kind of collars they had on for their protection, and scaring on their face and their legs can indicate that" says Corp. Ewing but continues it is still early in the investigation.
During the dog seizure, detectives uncovered a dog house on property. Inside, they found skeletal remains of dog along with a collar and chains on the ground. "Basically the dog died in the house, and they never even bothered to bury it."
The dogs found on Samuel's property range in age from six months to five years old and Corp. Ewing says it is aggravating when he sees things like this. "I don't understand why they do this. Why have something if you can't take care of it, it's something i've seen with horses and livestock, even kids. If you're going to have something just take care of it."
Corp. Ewing says there may be more dogs at another location and more charges could be filed against Samuels. Ewing says they will be working on the case for the rest of the week.
