Published: January 26, 2006 10:12 am      

State seizes three Clinton pit bulls

CLINTON — A Clinton County District Court judge has ruled that three dogs have been neglected by their owner, have injuries consistent with dog fighting and should not be returned to their owner.

Clinton County District Court Judge David Sivright ruled Tuesday that the three dogs — all pit bull terriers — were “threatened animals” when in the care of owner McKinley Wright III. Sivright based his determination on information gathered during a contested hearing that took place Friday.

At that hearing, the state sought to keep the animals from Wright, who was found to have the animals when officers executed a search warrant at his home at 633 Seventh Ave. South on Dec. 22. Court documents state the officers were searching the home in connection with a stolen property case. While at the home, officers found three pit bulls in kennels outside the home and a pit bull puppy in the basement of the house.

Officers determined the three older animals were in need of immediate veterinary treatment and transported them to the Clinton Humane Society. Court records say based on the examinations there, a 3-year-old male dog had a severe laceration on its lip and numerous scars on its head, neck and legs. The laceration was infected, the dog’s coat was in poor shape and it was underweight.

The veterinarian who treated the dog noted the dog’s ears had been surgically cropped close to its head, a common practice to prevent tearing of the ears during fighting.

The second dog, a black male, had an infected puncture wound on its head near an ear and also had several scars on its face, head and neck, had a coat that was in poor condition and was underweight. The dog was put on antibiotics.

The third dog, a 3-year-old female, appeared malnourished. She also was taken to the Humane Society.

The ruling also states officers found a dog treadmill, a supply of nutritional supplements for dogs to increase strength and muscle mass and a bite ring used to strengthen a dog’s jaw.

All three dogs had various types of worms and have been treated and vaccinated at the Humane Society.

The dogs’ physical conditions have improved, wrote Sivright, but the males are aggressive with other dogs. After an evaluation of all three dogs, it was determined only the female meets the criteria for adoptive placement.

Wright has denied training the dogs for fighting, stating that he is in the business of breeding and selling pit bull terriers on an Internet Web site. He said the dogs were injured when the tan male escaped from his kennel and entered the black male’s kennel.

“The court does not find this explanation credible,” the ruling said, also stating Wright offered no explanation for his ownership of equipment and supplies used to train dogs to fight.

“In any event, he failed to provide the dogs with necessary veterinary treatment of serious injuries, and failed to provide all three with adequate food and water,” Sivright wrote.

Sivright ruled the state will dispose of the animals in any manner deemed appropriate for the welfare of the animals — including euthanasia — with Wright to pay for expenses, court costs and expenses related to the investigation and prosecution of the case.