wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina |Missing Columbia shelter pit bulls traced to Bamberg

Missing Columbia shelter pit bulls traced to Bamberg

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By Jack Kuenzie - email

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DENMARK, SC (WIS) - When pit bulls began disappearing from the Columbia Animal Shelter late last month, you won't believe where they ended up: chained to trees in a crude stockade off Zorn Street near the Bamberg County town of Denmark.

The pups were taken there, police say, by a group of two adult men two 13-year-olds working together to carry out a series of break-ins at the shelter.

Bamberg County Sergeant Norris Williams was among the first to discover the stolen dogs.

"I'm convinced that none of these dogs were being bred to sell for puppies, for home security or anything of that nature. They were bred for fighting," said Williams.

There are some pretty clear indications the dogs being brought to Zorn Street were being conditioned to fight. For instance, the presence of automobile tires. Dogs were encouraged to chomp down on them as a way to build up their jaw strength.

The Bamberg County Sheriff's Department says of the 16 animals removed from the property this week, as many as nine were traced back to the shelter in Columbia.

On Monday, police announced the arrests of two suspects, one of the juveniles and 17-year-old Raven Perry.

Now Columbia has the second adult in custody, 25-year-old Dezmon Jones. He's facing multiple counts including second degree burglary, petit larceny, unlawful entry and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

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