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The Millen News, Wednesday, October 14, 2009 — Page 3 Dogfighting operation discovered near Midville By Elizabeth Billips True Citizen Associate Editor Bones, blood and death were everywhere. Sunday afternoon, an anony mous call guided a Burke County deputy to a bloodied dogfighting ring behind a trailer near Midville. It was a scene that seasoned investigators are calling “sick ening” and “infuriating.” “It was just hanging in a tree,” Sgt. Matt Raulerson says as he points to a photograph of a strangled, fly-covered dog dan gling from its leash. Other photos show blood sopped sponges, rags and col lars and pit bull carcasses in various stages of decay. One recently deceased dog has most of its face ripped off. “This had been going on for quite some time,” Sgt. Raulerson says as he flips through images of sun bleached skulls and vertebrae scattered throughout the backyard and woods behind the Scott’s Store Road trailer. According to deputies, Sonya Michelle Walker, 28, was living inside with her young children. She told them she was un aware of the overpowering stench and the dead bodies out side, but acknowledged her children’s father, William Moody Jr., 31, would bring dogs to her home. Walker turned herself into authorities Monday on charges of dogfighting and aggravated cruelty to animals, and arrest warrants were issued for Moody on like charges. DFCS was called on to investigate the wel fare of their children. Investigators say as many as 15 to 20 vehicles had been parked outside when a lone deputy got the call and walked up on the homemade ring. Find ing no one outside, she quickly retreated and called for backup. But by the time deputies re turned, the crowd had disas sembled the ring and fled the area. Moody’s brother, Calvin, was seen running into the woods and is still wanted for obstruction. Augusta Animal Services (AAS) seized six puppies and three adult dogs, including an extremely malnourished nurs ing mother and older pit bull mix chained so tightly to a tree that his body scraped it when he tried to move. “I think he was a roll-out dog,” AAS field supervisor Bruce McClure says, pointing out the dog’s facial wounds and swollen head. “When (dogfighters) want to test the aggression of new dogs, they’ll send them into the ring with an old fighter like this one. They let them spar for a while and then separate them. It’s a confi dence builder for the younger dog.” McClure says there’s no tell ing how many dogs met their ends behind the trailer. Besides the heavy scattering of bones, there are numerous dirt mounds and patches indicating other animals were buried. “It’s a horrific crime,” McClure says, noting that the dog found hanging in the tree is not an unusual find. “It’s a sport within the dogfight... when a dog is not a good fighter it’s no longer desirable and is often killed in painful, treacherous ways.” He says it’s not uncommon for one of these “turned” dogs to be dangled from a tree limb for the purpose of training and betting. “They’ll take bets on whose dog can clamp onto the legs and hold on the longest,” he explains. “Sometimes the dog will be lowered so that pup pies can train too.” Investigators say they’re cur rently working to identify some of the dogfighters and specta tors that got away and hope the public will step up with infor mation. It could pay big for anyone who does. The Humane Society of the United States offers a re ward up to $5,000 to any tipster who provides information lead ing to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in dogfight ing. KNOW SOMETHING? If you have information about this or any other dogfighting op eration, call Burke County inves tigators at 706-554-2133. To find out more about the reward up to $5,000, go to the humane society's website at http:// www.hsus.org/, then follow the “campaigns and program” link to “animal cruelty and fighting.” Georgia Wilderness Outfitters THE SOUTHEAST’S SPORTSMAN HEADQUARTERS We Now Have ARCHERY Equipment GET READY FOR DEER SEASON 40% OFF ON ALL ON TIME FEEDERS GUNS & SCOPES ON SALE NOW Georg h a Wilderness On Pit bull carcasses and bones littered the yard and woods surrounding the ring. (Photos courtesy of the Burke County Sheriff’s Office) We Can Make It Happen NOW! If you own or have equity in your home, land, mobile home or car, you can gel $1,000, S3,000 or more at Millen Loan and Finance Corporal ion Call or come by and discuss your money needs with us today. Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Closed Saturday MILLEN LOAN and FINANCE CORP. 128 N. Gray Street - Millen 982-5644 This strangled pit bull was found dangling by its leash from a tree limb. Open: Tuesday - Friday 9 am - 6 pm / Saturday 9 am - 3 pm Toll Free: (866) 564-2012 E-mail: gwo@windstream.net 120 N. Main Street • Sylvania, GA 30467 No Phone Quotes...All Sales Are Final...All Sales Are As Is ARE YOU INTERESTED IN ATTENDING EAST GEORGIA COLLEGE IN WAYNESBORO? Classes begin January 2010... don’t be left behind! 3 easy steps to a successful future! Step 1. Apply for EGC Admission on-line at http://www.ega.edu/admissions/ Or, call the EGC Admissions Office at 478.289.201 7 Step 2. Apply for financial aid on-line at http://www,ega,edu/finaid/howtoapply.htm For assistance, call the EGC Financial Aid Office at 478.289.2009 Step 3. Attend Student Advisement and Registration at the Burke County Public Library October 12, 13, 14 and 1 5 Drop by any day between 2 p.m. — 6 p.m. Faculty and staff will be available to assist with: Admissions Application Financial Aid Application Advisement Class Registration COMPASS Placement Exam COMPASS is a free placement test, not an admissions test. It can be taken any time after an admissions application has been submitted. The confidential results are used by academic advisors to place each student in appropriate courses that will prepare him/her for educational success. Calculators are permitted and the results are given directly to the student at the end of the test. Students who are required to take the COMPASS test may not register for classes without test results. Transfer students may or may not be required to take the COMPASS test. To exempt the test, SAT or ACT scores are required. What you need to bring: 'A $20 Application fee, if you haven’t applied in advance 'A Transcripts from previous educational experiences: High school GED with scores Technical Colleges All colleges and universities 'A SAT or ACT scores SAT or ACT scores are not required if you graduated within 5 years of enrollment at EGC. However, to exempt the COMPASS placement test, SAT/ACT scores are required. FOR. MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT EGC ADMISSIONS OFFICE AT 478-289-ZOI7 OR http://www.ega.edu/admissions/contact.htm CRN Campus Course Title Days Time Instructor 20350 Burke County EGAC 1100 Student Success Monday 4:15- 5:05pm Edgens 20351 Burke County ENGL 0099 Learning Support English Monday/Wed nes day 7- 8:40pm Staff 20352 Burke County HIST 21 12 U. S. History since 1865 Wednesday 5:15- 7:45pm Howell 20353 Burke County MATH 0099 Learning Support Math II Tuesday/Thursday 5:15- 6:55pm Franklin 20354 Burke County MATH 1 1 1 1 College Algebra Tuesday/Thursday 3:45- 5:00pm Franklin 20355 Burke County POLS 1 101 American Government Monday 5:15- 7:45pm Edgens 20356 Burke County READ 0099 Learning Support Reading Monday/Wed nes day 5- 6:40pm Staff 20274 Online ART 1 1 00 Introduction to Art Purcell 20267 Online BIOL 1 104 Introductory Biology II Wedincamp 20051 Online ENGL 1 101 Composition 1 Whitaker 20052 Online ENGL 1 102 Composition II Whitaker 20053 Online ENGL 21 1 1 World Literature 1 Whitaker 20038 Online ENGL 21 12 World Literature II Nevil 20349 Online ENGL 2120 British Literature Whitaker 20266 Online HIST 1 1 1 1 Western Civilization to McKinney 20083 Online HIST 2112 U.S. History since 1865 Upchurch 20258 Online HLTH 2051 Health Ware 20345 Online ISCI 1101 Integrated Science Dickens 20150 Online MATH 1111 College Algebra Barrs 20268 Online MATH 1121 Introduction to Statistics Blackburn 20260 Online PHED 1071 Fitness Walking Ware 20259 Online PHED 1141 Weight Training Ware 20087 Online POLS 1101 American Government Caiazzo 20089 Online PSYC 1101 General Psychology Kearns 20261 Online PSYC 2103 Human Growth & Development Braddy 20265 Online SOCI 1160 Social Problems Strickland