Dog Fighting Raid in North Georgia

Chattanooga,TN -- The Appalachian Judicial Circuit District Attorney's office and Gilmer County Sheriff Stacey Nicholson, acting on intelligence provided by The Humane Society of the United States and Norred & Associates, raided an alleged dogfighting operation near Ellijay, Ga. today.

Gerald Holcumb, the apparent owner of the operation, was arrested and charged with felony dogfighting, being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of marijuana.

Authorities seized 11 dogs along with suspected dogfighting paraphernalia. Several dogs had scars consistent with dogfighting.

"Today's raid is yet another blow to the dogfighting world," said Chris Schindler, deputy manager of animal fighting law enforcement for The HSUS. "We commend District Attorney Joe Hendricks' investigators for taking dogfighting allegations seriously and bringing animal fighting suspects to justice."

Dr. Melinda Merck, forensic veterinarian and leader of American Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals' CSI Unit, assisted with the raid and evaluated the seized dogs for evidence of animal fighting. The Zell Miller Mountain Parkway Drug Task Force also took part in the raid.

Information regarding this alleged dogfighting operation was first provided to The HSUS via its tip line, 877-TIP-HSUS. The HSUS animal fighting tip line was established by Atlanta-based corporate security and investigations firm Norred & Associates in the wake of the Michael Vick case so that Georgia residents can easily report illegal animal fighting to authorities.

The HSUS offers up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in animal fighting. The HSUS' animal fighting reward program has been made possible thanks to a grant by the Holland M. Ware Charitable Foundation, which is also based in Atlanta.

"Georgia's newly strengthened dogfighting law has made it possible to crack down on another one of the nation's leading dogfighting figures," said Appalachian Circuit District Attorney Joe Hendricks. "I am thankful to my office's lead investigators in this case, Kenny Crook and Johnny Russell, Gilmer County Sheriff Stacey Nicholson, The Humane Society of the United States, the ASPCA and The Zell Miller Mountain Parkway Drug Task Force for their hard work in making this raid happen."

It is a felony to own, possess, train, transport or sell a dog for the purpose of dogfighting in Georgia. Those involved in illegal dogfighting, as Holcumb is alleged to be, can receive one to five years in prison, a minimum fine of $5,000 or both. This is the fourth significant dogfighting raid for which The HSUS and Norred & Associates have provided intelligence to Georgia authorities since Gov. Sonny Purdue signed legislation strengthening the state's dogfighting law on May 16.

http://www.newschannel9.com/news/humane_970990___article.html/district_stacey.html

 

This is the second time Irish Jerry has had his dogs taken from him..First time there was close to a hundred..

 

Shit man. Before I wasnt really concered but too many people getting hit now. No wonder people are getting out of dogs real quick. no wonder people are moving to mexico. Dreams of owning a large yard have just been dashed for me.

 

Effen scumbags.

How is 11 dogs a major blow??? It sounds to me like they broke up a hobby breeder not a major contributor to the dogfighting world......:rolleyes:

Our thoughts and prayers need to go out to him

 

Prob nosey neighbours looking to get 5grand anyway anyhow. Or there looking online.

 

SPF I'm not sure yet if it him... His name is not Gerald Holcumb, so we'll have to see :rolleyes:

And yes I was there for the first time taking care of the 100? dogs :eek:

There was NO dog fighting going on at that time :rolleyes:

 

I hope it isnt him..I read what his wife wrote in to the gazette shortly after what happened the first time,and it was a damn shame what these people can and will do to people as respectable as the Holcombs..

 

My prayers are with whoever is in time of need,like them.. We got to stay positive through this storm and keep promoting the positive sides as we all have been doin @ g-d.com. We shall overcome or at least try...

 

It is him.

http://www.cbs46.com/metronews/17256015/detail.html

ELLIJAY, Ga. -- The Appalachian Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s office and Gilmer County Sheriff Stacey Nicholson, acting on a tip provided by The Humane Society of the United States and Norred & Associates, raided an alleged dogfighting operation near Ellijay, Ga. Thursday.

Gerald Holcumb, the apparent owner of the operation, was arrested and charged with felony dogfighting, being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of marijuana. Authorities seized 11 dogs along with suspected dogfighting paraphernalia. Several dogs had scars consistent with dogfighting.

Holcumb, a.k.a. “Irish Jerry,” is reportedly an influential figure in the underground dogfighting circuit who has been involved with dogfighting since 1966.

 

Isnt' GA the state that passed that whole "intent" law BS?

 

yes from the link I posted.


“Georgia’s newly strengthened dogfighting law has made it possible to crack down on another one of the nation’s leading dogfighting figures,” said Appalachian Circuit District Attorney Joe Hendricks. “I am thankful to my office’s lead investigators in this case, Kenny Crook and Johnny Russell, Gilmer County Sheriff Stacey Nicholson, The Humane Society of the United States, the ASPCA and The Zell Miller Mountain Parkway Drug Task Force for their hard work in making this raid happen.”

It is a felony to own, possess, train, transport or sell a dog for the purpose of dogfighting in Georgia. Those involved in illegal dogfighting, as Holcumb is alleged to be, can receive one to five years in prison, a minimum fine of $5,000 or both.

This is the fourth significant dogfighting raid for which The HSUS and Norred & Associates have provided intelligence to Georgia authorities since Gov. Sonny Purdue signed legislation strengthening the state's dogfighting law on May 16.

 

Time to replace the dogs with poodles or cock a poos (sp):rolleyes:

Ether way all dogs are going from here, I will not be caught up in the middle

 

This is crazy. Everybody in GA with dogs needs to get out of there and head up farther north. Sorry marty i know this is a major blow to you.

 

"Information regarding this alleged dogfighting operation was first provided to The HSUS via its tip line, 877-TIP-HSUS."

what an absolute crock, any crackhead that sees someone w/ a bulldog is going to be all over this scam. in the end its good people and dogs that suffer. if there wasnt $5,000 dangling on the other end of that telephone line you know not a single call would be made , and THAT is enough to make you sick to your stomach

 

Thats the truth of it right there. The current economic status is hitting people hard. Why not cash in on the guy down the street? This is the type of thing that turns neighbor against neighbor, destroy's families in the name of what? Media sensationalism and so-called humane groups catchin a warm fuzzy. If the dude has seriously been active since 1966, youre tellin me that it took you 22 years to find evidence?!! I cant wait til this country gets its priorities back in order and starts goin after real threats to society. Shut down a meth dealer for cryin out loud! I aint seen a good meth bust in MONTHS!! Not since everyone became a bleeding heart pit-bull "rescuer" (aka GESTAPO). And the "dogtown" show?! What a bunch of "please fund us" bs!! Its like Oscar Schindler, sure HE did some good, but what were the rest of the Nazi's up to? EXTERMINATION. These people are out to make a killing (literally and figuratively) on this breed. Smart move on Marty's part by sellin his dogs. If I had a site up, it wouldn't be tommorrow. If I had a ped online, it wouldnt be tommorrow. If I ever do breed another litter and someone gets lucky enough to get a pup, they better be happy with a hand written ped, cause I wouldnt register them. Notice what they are doing? Working from the back of a seven generation pedigree and moving forward. How long is it gonna be before they are at your door? Until funding runs out, not likely, not now.

 

i absolutely agree granted websites are all i have been able to look at as far as dogs, but it is not worth having one or peds online because like you said they may be at your door tomorrow. my heart goes out to all who are going through this bull shit sorry for swearin but it really agrevates me i mean dont these people have anything better to do it really makes me sick so many good dogs are being put down for no reason

 

Crap. What a load of crap.

Someone please tell me how they determine this, "Several dogs had scars consistent with dogfighting." How is the same scarring not consistent with hunting or accidents?

Yep, you are going to get a lot of phone calls whether they are true or not, when you offer 5,000 freakin' dollars.

Damn HSUS. Damn Witch Hunt!

"Georgia's newly strengthened dogfighting law has made it possible to crack down on another one of the nation's leading dogfighting figures," said Appalachian Circuit District Attorney Joe Hendricks.

No, they mean dog breeders. If they can't push APBT out by BSL, they will do it by claiming Dog fighter and putting all the dogs to sleep.

Plus another dumb law, MJ is less dangerous than Alcohol and tabacco, but since it's so easy to grow, the govt. knows it won't get the money they want off of it, so, it's illegal. Dumb laws. Dumb Politicians, and even dumber HSUS.

This really does make me mad.

What if I wrote, Dr. Merck is reportedly an influential figure in kiddy porn racket. I'd probably get sued for making that statement, yet Newspapers make those statements about someone being a Dog fighter all the time, and get away scotch free. Makes me mad.

 

It's very sad that you can't own a couple of dogs and don't be suspect of something in a "free" country as america. The pitbull hype is getting crazy.

 

Damn, everyone's dropping like flies. :eek:

Here I am, just going to get into the dogs in the next couple of years, and all the rest of you guys are getting out. God bless those of you hanging onto your dogs until they rip them from your hands! If it weren't for y'all, this breed would've been extinct a long time ago.

 

Man I live in Chattanooga and have dogs, time to lay low, show APBT WP ABPT, right now they dont care!