Animal owner charged with dogfighting

WAVY.com is investigating an alleged dogfighting operation in Gates County, North Carolina.

Tuesday, Gates County Sheriff Edward Webb seized 13 dogs under court order. He took possession of 11 pit bulls and 2 rottweilers, but could not find the dogs' owner.

Thursday morning, WAVY.com was there when the dog owner, Jackie Parker, turned himself over to the Sheriff.

When asked, "What about the treadmill, what about the wheel, what about the heavy chains? The Sheriff says this was a dog fighting operation.", Parker told WAVY.com, "I don't know anything about it."
He added, "...the truth will come out."

Parker appeared in court Thursday on one felony count of Dogfighting, 13 misdemeanor counts of Animal Cruelty and three counts of Not Properly Disposing of Animal Carcasses.

His bond was set at $16,500. Parker's next court appearance is scheduled for March 2nd.

The house where the dogs were confiscated is located on Kellogg Fork Road outside Sunbury, North Carolina.

WAVY.com visited an animal shelter in Chowan County to see the dogs. Many have scars, appear weak from malnutrition, and one appears to have a broken leg.

Webb showed us a goat horn in his office that was seized, "This is a goat horn. They would actually pry open the locked jaws of two dogs with the horn. It appears red because that is dried blood," Webb said.

Webb also showed us a wooden  treadmill. "The dog would be put in here on the treadmill. An animal carcass would be hanging here and the dog would run on the mill to catch it.  This made the dog stronger and faster," says Webb.