Veterinarian, animal advocate group speak on conditions of 50-plus dogs rescued from suspected illegal operation

Published 5:45 am Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Editor’s Note: Some of the images and descriptions in this story may be graphic for some readers/viewers.

Local animal advocates and authorities are picking up the pieces after over 50 dogs were found in distressing conditions Monday. After an anonymous tip led Smith County Animal Control and the Sheriff’s Office to discover an apparent dog fighting ring in rural Tyler, two brothers have been arrested and a number of the rescued dogs are in critical condition.

“There were so many who didn’t have water and we gave them water as quickly as we could,” said Cindy Nash, of Nicholas Pet Haven. “So many of the dogs had been exposed to the extreme weather.”

At the mobile home on County Road 4136, authorities saw a person fleeing the scene. On the property that spanned 9 acres, they found many injured dogs — some confined in kennels and hot boxes and others tied to treadmills with heavy weights on their necks. The grisly conditions exposed a suspected dark operation where animals were subjected to abuse — used as bait dogs in fights or bred for combat, officials believe.

“I hear about these dog fighting rings but I’ve never seen it in person,” Nash said. “Dogs just chained everywhere … the people who did this, they don’t care. It’s a way to make money … they’re just dogs to them.”

Kerry Jermon Isiah Jones, 34, of Tyler, and his brother Michael Cameron Jones, 31, have been arrested in the case and remain in the Smith County Jail on bonds of $560,000 and $500,000, respectively, as of Wednesday afternoon.

Without knowing the extent of what she would find, Nash was permitted by officials to inspect the property for dogs. She discovered a dog on a treadmill with a weight strapped around its neck — a barbaric practice intended to build muscle for dogfighting. It was just one of the many disturbing stories of abuse uncovered at the scene.

“I couldn’t believe what I was looking at,” she said. “My God … there were puppies being used as bait … some of these dogs are being trained to tear them apart.”

Animal control officers transported 52 dogs, as well as cats to the county shelter. Additionally, several critically injured animals were sent to Nicholas Pet Haven for medical evaluation by Dr. Gary Spence of Spence and White Veterinary Hospital in Tyler.

Among the survivors recovering at the vet office is a small pit bull mix. Her face, a grim tapestry of scars, told a story of pain and fear. It appears the battered pup had endured repeated abuse with only makeshift repairs to her wounds, but she wasn’t the only critical case cared for by Dr. Spence and his team.

“We had to perform surgery on one dog whose right eye was ruptured and needed a third eyelid to close the eye,” he said. “Another had a severe laceration on his chest.”

Two additional dogs received emergency treatment, including one with a fractured jaw and another struck with a ball peen hammer — a practice officials believe many of the dogs endured.

“They do this so their best dogs don’t get bit,” Spence said. “There’s a dog with a broken jaw who basically just goes through motions because he can’t fight back. That’s what they do to bait dogs … they just let the other dogs tear the hell out of them.”

The vet also attended to a French Bulldog caught in the turmoil.

“She was in a very bad situation, caught between four pit bulls who each had a leg. We spent significant time repairing her lacerations, but she is doing fine now,” Spence said Tuesday.

He emphasized the dangerous, high-stakes nature of dogfighting, an illegal practice driven by money.

The animals rescued from the alleged dog fighting operation have to be kept in the custody of Smith County Animal Shelter until a judge decides how to proceed. After that decision is made, the dogs will be held for another 11 days for the owner to repeal the decision.

As the 50-plus dogs and cats await judicial proceedings at the Smith County Animal Shelter and Nicholas Pet Haven, there is an urgent need for fosters.

“We need the community’s help to find temporary homes for these animals,” Spence said. “Many of the dogs at the shelter face the risk of being put to sleep due to lack of space. We need fosters to provide care and help us find permanent homes for the dogs that are already in the shelters while the others are awaiting adjudication.”{span class=”print_trim”}

Despite everything the dogs have endured, they have remained remarkably gentle and affectionate, according to officials. Starved for attention and care, the dogs display none of the aggression one might expect, showing only a deep longing for affection.

“We need to hold the people who do this accountable,” Nash said. “It’s … awful what they do … and it’s happening everywhere … it’s bad in all of East Texas.”

To inquire about fostering, call Smith County Animal Control at 903-266-4303. You can also donate through Nicholas Pet Haven’s PayPal at PayPal.me/nicholaspethaven, or apply to foster by visiting tinyurl.com/NicholasPetHavenFosterApp.