A Gainesville man was arrested Wednesday after law enforcement discovered 12 mistreated dogs in his backyard, according to a Gainesville Police Department arrest report.
GPD officers assisted Alachua County Animal Resources in a search warrant of 43-year-old Clinton Thomas’ home for alleged dog fighting and animal cruelty.
Officers found 12 kenneled dogs in Thomas’ backyard, all kept in conditions consistent with organized dog fighting, according to the report. All of the kennels were padlocked, and several were pipe clamped, so officers had to use bolt cutters to open them.
Seven adult dogs and five puppies were in varied states of mistreatment, according to the arrest report. Many had injuries and scarring on their faces, legs and paws. One was in a crate covered with feces, and another only had a white barrel for shelter.
Several dogs were secured on a heavy chain, and some had weighted collars. Many did not have access to water and appeared lethargic, according to the report.
Around the kennels, officers discovered wound-care treatments and items that could be used for dog training.
GPD found weighted collars and K-9 weights, along with break sticks and spring poles, which are often used to teach dogs to bite or attack.
Thomas came home in the middle of the search. He told officers he owned the dogs and was taken into custody.
According to the report, a family member approached the officers following Thomas’ arrest and said he “wasn’t even fighting dogs today.”
In custody, Thomas told officers he’s had the dogs for several years, calling them his “hobby.” He denied breeding or selling the dogs, and he said some of them were owned by friends.
Thomas said he takes care of the dogs every day, feeding and walking them. He said there was nothing wrong with their living conditions and denied using them in dog fighting.
He said the dogs’ scarring was “self-inflicted,” and the weighted collars were meant for “hog hunting.”
Due to the dogs’ reported injuries and living conditions, as well as the items found in the yard, GPD found probable cause Thomas “knowingly possessed and maintained the dogs for the purpose of organized dog fighting.”
Thomas was released on bond, according to Art Forgey, GPD’s public information officer. He faces nine animal cruelty charges related to dog fighting and improper care, according to court documents.
It’s unclear where the dogs were taken, and ACAR didn’t respond to request for comment by the time of publication.
Contact Vanessa Norris at vnorris@alligator.org. Follow her on X @vanessajnorris.
