GRAVES COUNTY, KY- There could be a future for many of the 72 dogs seized Thursday after the arrests of two people allegedly involved in pit bull fighting.

Joanal DeBerry and Amy DeBerry face animal cruelty charges in Graves County. They were arrested Wednesday night at their home on Highway 1241. A third person, Thomas McClellen, was arrested on drug charges. Deputies found dozens of dogs tied up in their yard. They found about 20 more pit bulls at a separate location on House Road. All of the dogs have been signed over to the Mayfield-Graves County Animal Shelter. The 20 pit bulls at the House Road location were seized Thursday night.

There was great concern among those working at the shelter that nearly all of the pit bulls would have to be euthanized because deputies say they’ve been trained to be vicious. One of the dogs seized by deputies and animal control from the Highway 1241 location had to be euthanized after biting someone Wednesday night. However, there is a ray of hope that many of these digs can be rehabilitated. Several animal rescue groups in multiple states are making the trip to Graves County to see if they can help.

“It does make me sick,” Nancy Dabowski of Mayfield said after seeing Local 6’s story on the seized pit bulls.

“Sick, that it could happen here,” Eddie Robertson, an Animal Control Officer for Graves County, said of the condition of many of the pit bulls.

There have been 72 pit bulls total seized from two locations in Graves County. Many of them are emaciated and covered with scars from head to toe. At the Mayfield-Graves County Animal Shelter, Local 6 met one pit bull that workers there referred to as a “bait dog”. According to workers at the shelter, “bait dogs” are used to train fighting dogs. They have no way to defend themselves.

“This dog can’t hurt them because he don’t have no teeth,” one worker said as he showed us that the dogs teeth had either been filed down or pulled out.

“But, yet, it’s still friendly,” Joseph Lacewell, Manager at the shelter and an Animal Control officer, said as the “bait dog” wagged its tail and licked workers. “Even after all its been through, it still wants to be a loving dog.”

So did many of the other dogs Seized Thursday at the property on House Road. One dog had a torn out eye and part of its lip ripped off. It wagged its tail and licked several of the workers as they looked at its injuries.

It’s for this very reason Danowski didn’t want to see these animals put down if they could possibly be saved.

“It is the easy answer, but I don’t feel like it’s the right answer,” Danowski said.

Lacewell and others at the shelter agree with Danowski. Thursday night, an animal rescue group made the trip from southeast Missouri to Mayfield. SEMO Animal Rescue Alliance looked at each of the 20 dogs seized from the House Road property to see if any of the dogs could be saved.
    
“They’re gonna’ help us evaluate the dogs to see if they’re vicious, if they can be saved,” Lacewell said.

Those too vicious will have to be put down. Others, says Lacewell, can possibly be rehabilitated and adopted out to good homes.

“Usually a month to two months before they adopt them out, to make sure these are gonna’ be good dogs,” Lacewell said.

It’s music to Danowski’s ears. She donated money to a dog sanctuary in Utah. It’s where many of the pit bulls used in fighting by ex-football star Michael Vick were sent after he was arrested for running a pit bull fighting ring.

“They’re undergoing rehabilitation and they’re just really having so much better life,” Danowski said.

More importantly, says Lacewell, they’re getting a chance at life.

“These dogs are tortured, and fought to the death. It makes you think, why and how somebody could even do that to an animal,” Lacewell said.

There are two more animal rescue groups that want to help. Bully Bliss Pit Bull Rescue of Hopkinsville, KY and Eleven:Eleven Bully Breed Rescue and Safe Haven of Dickson, TN will be at the home on Highway 1241 in the morning. There are still about 46 dogs still being held there.

You can help these animals. The groups need supplies, food, and kennels. Check out the Mayfield-Graves Animal Shelter website to donate money directly, or call them at (270)251-0130 for more information.

If you have any information on this case or the dogs, call the McCracken County Sheriff’s Department at (270)444-4719 or the Graves County Sheriff’s Department at (270)247-4501. The Humane Society of The United States is offering two rewards regarding information that leads to an arrest and conviction on cruelty to animals and dog fighting. They are offering a $2,500 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction of Animal Cruelty. They are offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction for Dog Fighting

SOURCE:

http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=acaae6ca-af94-42bf-ab91-ac7f714bef49