2 in custody after dogs rescued from suspected dog fighting ring in Tyler

Published 11:15 pm Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Two men are in custody after an anonymous tip helped authorities discover a suspected dog fighting ring in Tyler. An investigation is ongoing after over 50 dogs were rescued from the suspect’s home.

“We received a complaint (Monday) morning about some dogs at this location that someone noticed over the weekend,” said Amber Greene, supervisor of Smith County Animal Control.

The call stated there may be dead or wounded dogs, with dogs appearing to be in “horrible condition” who were in crates. The caller also believed there were dogs eating other dogs,” Greene said. “We needed to come out and check on that.”

Animal control officials arrived at a home on County Road 4136 north of Tyler to discover a person fleeing the scene, where many injured dogs were found. Dogs were reportedly found in hot boxes and tied to treadmills. Greene said they did not find dogs eating one another.

“We went ahead and called the sheriff’s office to assist us because we recognized that could be a criminal offense,” Greene said.

The sheriff’s office has two brothers in custody in connection with the case. The investigation is ongoing.

Kerry Jermon Isiah Jones, 34, of Tyler, was arrested on a charge of cruelty to non-livestock animals/failure to provide food/care/shelter, according to online jail records. He was also charged with dogfighting, participating in earnings/providing building.

His brother Michael Jones was also arrested, Smith County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Larry Christian said Tuesday.

According to officials, multiple dogs were found with ear and snout injuries. Despite injuries, many of the dogs, including puppies and adult dogs, were not aggressive.

Officials remained on the property until a seizure warrant was granted by the Justice of the Peace. Once the warrant was issued, Smith County Animal Control took more than 50 dogs, prioritizing those in the most critical condition first. They also investigated inside a Tahoe on the property that reportedly had a rifle and bag of marijuana.

Since there is an official seizure warrant on the dogs, they will be held at Smith County Animal Control until a judge makes a determination regarding their custody and future care.

“If we’re awarded custody, we have to hold them an additional 11 days to give the owner the right to appeal, and we can’t do anything with them until then,” Greene clarified.

The dogs are currently undergoing medical evaluations as the investigation continues, with authorities searching for additional suspects.

“We need to crack down on it and hold the people accountable,” Greene said. “Reasons like this are exactly why I got into animal control 14 years ago. I wanted to be the one that can make the difference and be the voice for the ones who can’t.”

Officials encourage people to say something if they see something. “We probably would not have been able to find this if someone did not say something,” Greene said.

To report any suspicious activity involving animals, call Smith County Animal Control at 903-266-4303.

To inquire about fostering animals in need, 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.