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<\/a><\/p>\n(Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n LUZERNE COUNTY, \u00a0Pennsylvania\u2013\u2013<\/strong>Pennsylvania State Police on March 6,\u00a0 2025 disclosed having impounded 28 pit bulls from a home on Ridge Avenue in West Hazleton,\u00a0 Pennsylvania,\u00a0 eight days after executing a search warrant on February 27,\u00a0 2025 that brought the first major U.S. alleged dogfighting bust of the year.<\/p>\n Geography suggested a possible connection with the February 4,\u00a0 2025 arrest about 70 miles away of an alleged pit bull hauler for dogfighters operating out of Houston,\u00a0 Texas.<\/p>\n At the West Hazleton scene of the mass pit bull impoundment, \u00a0a semi-residential,\u00a0 semi-industrial neighborhood bordering on woods,\u00a0 Cranberry Creek,\u00a0 and State Route 924,\u00a0 \u00a0\u201cTroopers said they found numerous items related to animal fighting,\u201d\u00a0 reported Vivian Muniz and Gianna Galli for WBRE\/WYOU Eyewitness News in Scranton,\u00a0 Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cNineteen dogs were found in crates inside while eight were discovered inside a backyard shed,\u201d\u00a0 Muniz and Galli detailed.\u00a0 \u201cThe dogs showed scars on their head, \u00a0chest, \u00a0and legs, \u00a0a sign of dog fighting, \u00a0according to investigators.<\/p>\n \u201cTroopers said one dog was running loose on the property before being captured.\u201d<\/p>\n The pit bulls were reportedly taken into custody by Tracey Morgan-Chopick of the Luzerne County Animal Response Team.<\/p>\n The Griffin Pond Animal Shelter \u201ctemporarily cared for the dogs until they were placed in the care of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals [ASPCA]\u201d recounted Muniz and Galli.<\/p>\n (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cUpon arrival on scene,\u201d\u00a0 according to an ASPCA statement, \u00a0\u201claw enforcement discovered dogfighting paraphernalia, \u00a0including weighted collars and heavy chains, springpoles,\u00a0 treadmills,\u00a0 and medical supplies,\u00a0 which included IV materials, dog aspirin, \u00a0and parasite growth retardant solution.<\/p>\n \u201cSome dogs were also observed with scarring and injuries consistent with dogfighting,\u201d \u00a0the ASPCA statement confirmed.<\/p>\n \u201cThe ASPCA tells 28\/22 News the dogs are receiving medical and behavioral evaluations until placement options are determined,\u201d\u00a0 Muniz and Galli said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe person inside the home at the time of the search warrant was taken to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility on unrelated charges.<\/p>\n \u201cPolice are still investigating. There is no word yet if anyone has been charged in connection with the dogfighting ring,\u201d\u00a0 Muniz and Galli added.<\/p>\n The ASPCA pays president Matt Bershadker more than $1.1 million a year.<\/strong><\/em> \u201cIn just the past year alone,\u201d\u00a0 Muniz and Galli concluded,\u00a0 \u201cnationwide the ASPCA has assisted law enforcement with 17 cases of suspected dogfighting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAssisted\u201d does not appear to include doing the primary investigation leading to dogfighting busts.<\/p>\n The ASPCA,\u00a0 as of the most recent available IRS Form 990 filing,\u00a0 for fiscal year 2022,\u00a0 had income of $376 million,\u00a0 paying chief executive Matt Bershadker total compensation for the year of more than $1.1 million.<\/p>\n By contrast,\u00a0 Showing Animals Respect & Kindness does the primary investigation leading to about as many cockfighting busts per year as the number of dogfighting busts the ASPCA claims to have assisted with after the fact,\u00a0 on a total annual budget of less than a third of Bershadker\u2019s salary.<\/p>\n Showing Animals Respect & Kindness founder and chief executive Steve Hindi has never taken a salary.<\/p>\n Edwin Bradley. (Pike County Prison photo)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The chain of events leading to the bust in West Hazleton,\u00a0 an economically depressed former coal town,\u00a0 may have begun at 8:47 a.m. on February 4,\u00a0 2025,\u00a0 when Pennsylvania state trooper Thomas Rehberg stopped a 2010 Mazda CX7 \u00a0near Interstate 84 west mile marker 25.8, \u00a0in Palymra Township, \u00a0Pike County,\u00a0 about 70 miles from West Hazleton.<\/p>\n \u201cThe driver, \u00a0Edwin Bradley,\u201d\u00a0 41,\u00a0 of Houston, \u00a0Texas \u00a0\u201cwas discovered to be driving under the influence of drugs, \u00a0and in possession of drugs and related drug paraphernalia,\u201d\u00a0 according to the arrest report.<\/p>\n \u201cThrough a consent to search of the vehicle, \u00a0five pit bull dogs in small cages were observed in unsanitary conditions,\u201d\u00a0 the arrest report continued.\u00a0 \u201cSome of the dogs had open sores and were bleeding from their bodies.\u201d<\/p>\n (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Taken into custody and questioned at the Pennsylvania State Police station in Blooming Grove,\u00a0 Bradley was discovered to have been \u201cpreviously charged three separate times with felony dogfighting in Texas.<\/p>\n \u201cNumerous indicators of dog trafficking for fighting were discovered,\u201d\u00a0 the arrest report summarized.\u00a0 \u201cDuring the investigation it was discovered that that Bradley is a part of a large-scale dogfighting organization in Houston, \u00a0Texas, \u00a0and is a transport man for individuals who want pit bull dogs for fighting delivered.\u201d<\/p>\n (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n After \u201cAll shelters around and in Pike County were contacted,\u201d\u00a0 but refused to take in the five impounded pit bulls,\u00a0 \u00a0they were \u201ctransported by Pittsburg Aviation Animal Rescue to Philadelphia,\u00a0 \u00a0and housed by the Pennsylvania Society to Prevent Cruelty to Animals,\u201d\u00a0 the arrest report finished.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was unclear precisely where Bradley was allegedly taking the dogs,\u201d\u00a0 reported Joe Kohut for WNEP News in Scranton,\u00a0 adding,\u00a0 \u201cThe dogs were locked in small, unsanitary cages. Some had open sores that were actively bleeding.<\/p>\n (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cBradley was jailed in Pike County in lieu of $25,000 bail.\u201d<\/p>\n But Vivian Muniz of WBRE\/WYOU,\u00a0 who later covered the West Hazleton bust,\u00a0 reported that \u201cBradley told troopers that he was driving from Connecticut to Houston with dogs he had just picked up.<\/p>\n \u201cTroopers said he had glassy and bloodshot eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cThe smell of marijuana was coming from the vehicle and a THC vape was seen, \u00a0leading troopers to believe he was driving under the influence,\u201d\u00a0 Muniz added,\u00a0 mentioning also that the pit bulls \u201clooked malnourished, \u00a0and were bleeding from the mouth.\u201d<\/p>\n (Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Bradley may have only been passing through,\u00a0 but animal fighting is scarcely unknown in Luzerne County.<\/p>\n Acting on a tip about cockfighting,\u00a0 the Luzerne County SPCA and detectives for the county district attorney\u2019s office on April 10,\u00a0 2024 \u201cexecuted a search warrant on the residence of Reynaldo DeJesus Castillo, \u00a062, \u00a0and Annies Martires Castillo, \u00a069, \u00a0on Sugarloaf Heights Road,\u201d\u00a0 Emily Cherkauskas and Taylor Whartnaby reported for WOLF-TV in Wilkes-Barre.<\/p>\n \u201cThe search yielded 77 live hens, \u00a059 live roosters, \u00a0two dead roosters, \u00a030 eggs, \u00a0multiple gloves used to cover rooster spurs to practice fighting, \u00a0and a package of \u2018Super Vermi-Gallo,\u2019 \u00a0a substance known to be used to promote fighting,\u201d\u00a0 Luzerne County district attorney Sam Sanguedolce said.<\/p>\nNo link disclosed,\u00a0 but suggestive geography<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n19 pit bulls in crates,\u00a0 eight in shed<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nSpringpoles,\u00a0 treadmills,\u00a0 & scars<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
(Beth Clifton collage)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\nASPCA assistance in perspective<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cDriving under the influence\u201d<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cPreviously charged three times with dogfighting in Texas\u201d<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nLocal shelters would not take the pit bulls<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cGlassy & bloodshot eyes\u201d<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nCockfighting bust in proximity<\/h2>\n