BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — The Brevard County Sheriff's Office said they found 10-12 dogs in bad shape when they arrived at a home where they were investigating a drug case.
Officials said they found evidence of a dog-fighting ring at the home on Airboat Avenue near Cocoa just before noon Friday.
Deputies swarmed the property and said all the dogs have been surrendered to Animal Services.
“We know we had upward of 10 dogs on the property, each of them in horrible condition,” said Sheriff Wayne Ivey of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.
He said the dogs were trained to fight and were found in an arena where they believe the dogs were pitted against one another.
Deputies took 40-year-old Siricia Mitchell into custody.
Mitchell’s neighbor said he never saw any signs of dog fighting on the property.
“I don’t know of anything related to dog fighting,” said Glenn Cole.
Ivey said the conditions of the homes and the dogs were deplorable.
“Anything we can work out to put charges on narcotics, the dogs, we’re going to load the wagon,” Ivey said. “I’m appalled by it. The first time was bad enough. Here we are again on this same individual’s property with these dogs.”
This isn’t Mitchell’s first arrest related to animal cruelty.
Records show he had animal cruelty charges dating back to 2003.
He’s not facing additional charges related to dog fighting and the 5 pounds of marijuana deputies said they found in the home as they executed a search warrant.
WFTV
