Dogs Suspected of Fighting Taken From Owners

Two canines are protected and in the custody of animal control tonight.  Beaumont police say they are planning to arrest a couple of juveniles accused of fighting the dogs.  The pit bulls were officially handed over during a hearing this afternoon.

The scars can still be seen, but the fear is more obvious. Beaumont police say what you see when you look at these two pit bulls is evidence of abuse, fighting in particular.

Beaumont police talked about that evidence in a hearing this afternoon in Justice of the Peace Vi McGinnis' courtroom.  Beaumont Animal Control told the judge the dogs were found in front of a Beaumont home on West Street last week after a call about stray dogs.  These are pictures of what was found. the dogs were tied to a pole in front of the home with a telephone cord.  The officer told the judge he realized the dogs were not strays and had signs of being fought so he called police.

"We are actively investigating animal cruelty cases all the time," said Beaumont Police Detective Tina Lewellen.

Lewellen told the judge when she arrived on scene, she met with the dog's apparent owners, a 15-year-old and a 13-year-old. Lewellen says the older teen admitted to fighting the dogs because he had to "prove she wasn't no punk."  Lewellen says the dogs were seized that day, teaching at least one family 'that' behavior would not be tolerated.

She said, "Animals fall under property codes and a lot of people thing of their animals as nothing but mere property."

Judge McGinnis ruled to make the family pay for damaging that property. The dogs officially belong to the city and the family now owes animal control almost $400 for the dogs' care.  But Lewellen says the dogs have paid a higher price for their owners' actions, and that's why police want the public to know they won't stand for fighting or abuse.

She said, "If all the elements are there to make a criminal case than we will put together a case and forward that case to the district attorney's office where it will be prosecuted."

Detective Lewellen says the juveniles will soon be arrested on criminal mischief charges.  The one who admitted to fighting the dog will also be charged with felony dog fighting.