Pit bulls rescued from possible dog-fighting ring now up for adoption in Tacoma
Dozens of pit bulls rescued from an alleged dog-fighting ring are now up for adoption, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Humane Society.
A judge last month refused to return any of the 48 dogs to their owner, 40-year-old Elmer Givens Jr., who filed a petition claiming the pit bulls were pets and well taken care of.
Givens did not file an appeal by Wednesday, which means forever homes can now be found for the pups.
The Humane Society has 37 of the dogs and said they can be adopted after being spayed and neutered.
“Ranging from just a few months old to 5 years old, all the dogs have been friendly, loving and sociable since arriving at the shelter,” the Humane Society said in a news release.
People who want to take a dog home will have to fill out an application and undergo a background check.
The dogs were rescued Dec. 18 from Givens’ property in Midland, where sheriff’s deputies received a tip about starving dogs that were possibly being used for breeding.
Many of the dogs appeared to be malnourished, injured, scarred and afraid of their owner, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
Pit bulls were found locked in crates in the garage, lying in their own urine and feces.
There was no lighting or ventilation in the garage.
Eleven of the dogs were sent to a veterinarian for medical treatment; the others were sent to the Humane Society, where they remained during the legal battle.
Givens was arrested on suspicion of first-degree animal cruelty and animal fighting but has yet to be charged.
The investigation is ongoing.
At a hearing last month, Givens denied being involved in dog fighting and said he was unaware of laws governing how many dogs he could have.
“I take pictures of my dogs all the time,” he said. “It’s just hard for me to believe that every dog was in bad shape.”
An animal control officer testified that some of the dogs had scarring on their faces and hind ends, indicating they had been in fights before.
She also said a vet found marks consistent with a pellet gun or cigarette burns on several of the pit bulls.
One dog had to be euthanized after it ate part of a blanket overnight.
Despite Givens’ plea and letters of support from friends willing to help care for the dogs, Pierce County District Court Judge Jeanette Lineberry declined to return any of the animals.
“Based on the testimony, the living conditions were deplorable,” Lineberry said. “... The court has serious concerns about them suffering future neglect or abuse.”
If you’re interested in adopting one of the dogs, fill out an application at www.thehumanesociety.org or email adoptions@thehumanesociety.org.
This story was originally published February 20, 2020 at 9:38 AM.
