Kane, a four year old pitbull dog who killed his master stays in a cage at the Marikina city pound suburbs of Manila, 29 July 2007. Kane attacked Zenaida Sebastian, 56 and grandaughter Stephany, while having a meal 21 July 2007 killing the grandmother and seriously mauling the grandaughter at their house. City chief veterinarian Manuel Carlos has placed the dog under two weeks of observation for rabies infection and said if the owners refuse to take the dog back, he will look for a new owner for adoption and rehabilitation. If everything else fails they will have to apply the mercy killing. Some pet owners in Manila use their pitbull in illegal dog fighting matches. AFP PHOTO/LUIS LIWANAG (Photo credit should read LUIS LIWANAG/AFP via Getty Images)
Four people have pleaded guilty to federal dogfighting and conspiracy charges for their roles in an interstate dogfighting network spanning the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and New Jersey, a federal prosecutor said.
The four defendants and their co-conspirators participated in animal-fighting ventures from April 2013 through July 2018, said Raj Parekh, acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, in a news release.
In one instance in April 2016, three of the defendants met up with others at a store parking in King George, Virginia, and went to a fight location, the news release said. The three then participated in a “two-card” dogfight, in which there are two separate dogfights with different dogs and handlers. One of the dogs died from injuries suffered in the fight, court documents said.
Odell Anderson Sr. pleaded guilty on Tuesday to conspiracy to violate the animal-fighting prohibitions of the Animal Welfare Act and other charges, according to the news release. Emmanuel Powe Sr. pleaded guilty on May 10, and Chester Moody Jr. and Carlos Harvey each pleaded guilty to charges on April 28, the news release said.
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Authorities said the case was prosecuted as part of Operation Grand Champion, which combatted organized dogfighting.
