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Dogfighting equipment going back to convicted couple

By Heather Rowe - email

TUCSON (KOLD) - It was a major investigation -- a team of agencies working together for over a year to bust an alleged dog fighting ring in February of 2008.  But when it seemed the Southern Arizona Case was long over, a development in the case shocked even some detectives.

It is a rare look inside the underground world of dogfighting.

"Unless you know someone in the business, you would not have access to this magazine," says Dawn Barkman of the Pima County Sheriff's Department. 

Just some of the many pieces of evidence, found during a major raid at a home in Avra Valley in 2008 and used to help charge the owners Juan and Zeida Verdin with animal cruelty. The Verdins were accused of breeding and selling dogs to fight, and they later pled guilty to animal cruelty and received probation. 

The pit bulls' fate was much different.  90 of the 150 dogs were euthanized, eemed too aggressive to rehabilitated.  Now more than a year later, the tools that trained them to be agressive are going right back to those charged with doing it.

"The detective told me she has never seen an order like this from a judge, to give dog fighting evidence back to a person who has pled guilty."

The judge in the case ordered the prosecution and the detectives to hand over tie-out chains and exercise jennies -- dog fighting training devices.  Animal cruelty investigators say tie-out chains are used to discourage socialization and keep dogs separated.  Exercise jennies are like horse walkers.  A dog is tied to one part of the wheel while a live kitten or other bait is put on the other end.  The dog runs non stop trying to get the bait it will never catch.  When exercise is over they are given the bait.

Both are designed to create the desire for blood, and both are going back to those who pled guilty to animal abuse.  Also going back -- the method to sell the dogs that are trained to fight.

"When people want to buy a dog they go through this magazine and they choose the dog. "

We requested to talk to the judge in the case, but we were told he does not comment on his cases.

Although they are getting some of their items back, the Verdins remain on their 3-year probation in which they are not allowed to own animals.

Dogfighting is a felony.  If you suspect dog fighting in your neighborhood, call the dogfighting tip line:  1-877-TIP-HSUS (4787).

You can remain anonymous. There's a five thousand dollar reward if your tip leads an to an arrest of a dogfighter.

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