Media Advisory

Louisiana SPCA Assists DEA in LA/MS Bust Involving Drugs and Dogs

NEW ORLEANS (4/24/07) - Due to its depth of expertise handling dogfighting cases, the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (LA/SPCA) was asked by federal authorities to participate in the planned raid that involved the arrest of 14 people for drug trafficking in Louisiana and Mississippi on April 24, 2007 in order to manage the dogfighting aspect of the case.

Forty-four American Pit Bull Terriers with extensive scarring were seized from the property of Maxwell Landry, Pass Christian, MS, along with a Chihuahua. Six pit bulls were seized from the home of Jason Broom, Chalmette, LA. Humane investigators also found several burn sites on the property in Mississippi, one of which contained bones from multiple dogs. They also exhumed one dead dog from another grave site, whose remains will be examined by ASPCA forensic veterinarian Dr. Melinda Merck.

Both properties uncovered staggering evidence and dogfighting paraphernalia such as scales for weighing dogs before a match, breed stands which are used to mate aggressive dogs, treadmills used to prepare dogs for matches, underground dogfighting magazine Sporting Dog Journal and other related books, and extensive records noting successes and losses in dogfighting contests.

The LA/SPCA's multi-agency team included the St. Charles Parish Humane Society/Animal Control, St. Charles Parish Detective Lonnie Senior who has gained extensive experience handling dogfighting cases, Humane Society of South Mississippi, and forensic veterinarian Dr. Melinda Merck of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Dr. Merck, who specializes in forensic medicine for animals - a rarity in the United States - is documenting the medical condition of all animals and will spend several days with our team to prepare evidence.

The Harrison County Sheriff's Department is charging Landry with felony dogfighting charges and the
St. Bernard Parish Sheriff is charging Broom in Louisiana.

The dogs are being evaluated and held pending legal procedure.

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