THE DON OF DOGFIGHTING
He’s being called “The Don of Dogfighting” and even “The Godfather of
Dogfighting.” Seventy-year-old Floyd Boudreaux, and his 40-year-old son, Guy,
were arrested and charged with dogfighting, animal cruelty, possession of a
sawed-off shotgun and illegal possession of steroids.
Fifty-six adult American pit bull terriers and four puppies from Boudreaux’s
Youngsville property were seized by the state police, the Louisiana Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Humane Society of the United
States. A Web site that lists Boudreaux’s business as “Cajun Knls” [sic] states:
“No dogs are intended or sold for any illegal purposes.” According to the HSUS,
“Boudreaux has a virtual army of followers nationwide who purchase his dogs for
fighting,” and Boudreaux’s bloodline of “Eli” dogs are “considered the top
choice for dog fighters.” The HSUS also contends that there were “a couple
hundred roosters” on the Boudreaux property believed to be used for
cockfighting, but the birds were not seized. (Cockfighting is still legal in
Louisiana and parts of New Mexico.) Last week, SPCA officials stated that the
dogs were valued at $250,000 and that all 56 of the dogs had been euthanized. —
RRF
Tupelo humane society sued over deaths of pit bull puppies
Associated Press
OXFORD, Miss. - The owner of eight pit bull puppies seized by authorities in Tupelo has sued a local humane society and the city, claiming the action violated his constitutional rights.
In the lawsuit filed recently in federal court in Oxford, Paden McCullough seeks damages totaling $12,000, or $1,500 for each of the eight puppies. He also seeks punitive damages in an amount to be determined by a jury.
McCullough, a student at the University of Mississippi, brought the 4-week-old pit bull puppies, their mother and two other pit bulls home to Tupelo last winter for the holidays.
He claims in the lawsuit that he was unaware that, according to a city ordinance, pit bulls are considered dangerous animals and he was supposed to let officials know he had them.
After he arrived, two of the adult dogs went into a neighbor's yard. The neighbor, not knowing that McCullough was home, called the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society to pick up the animals.
The officer took the two dogs that had strayed, then asked McCullough for the other dogs he had in a garage.
The complaint says the animal control officer took the puppies after being told that they hadn't had their shots. The puppies contracted a virus and died shortly after McCullough paid $100 in fines, the lawsuit alleges.
McCullough's attorney, Jim Waide, says that the seizure of the mother dog and the puppies was wrong because they hadn't escaped into the neighbor's yard. He said the fact that McCullough was fined for having the dogs in the first place was unconstitutional because a penalty can't be levied without a hearing.
Waide also claims the ordinance is unconstitutional because without evidence, it deems all pit bulls dangerous, "even when the animal is a small puppy which could not endanger anyone."
The city has denied any culpability, saying that McCullough's complaint is with the humane society. According to a response to the lawsuit filed by Tupelo officials, a contract with the humane society calls for the non-profit to indemnify the city from all legal claims unless they involve the city's automobile insurance.
The humane society has yet to file an answer. Tupelo attorney Wayne Williams, who represents animal shelter director Shelia Horton and the humane society, said he could not discuss the lawsuit or say when the humane society would file an answer.
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"In the worst case of scientific fakery to come to light in two decades," the Boston Globe reports, "a top obesity researcher who long worked at the University of Vermont admitted yesterday that he fabricated data in 17 applications for federal grants to make his work seem more promising, helping him win nearly $3 million in government funding." If you are shocked by this fraud, you won't believe who's defending him.