THOMASVILLE — A 29-year-old Thomasville man is charged with aggravated animal cruelty in dog-fighting activity discovered last week.

Dexter Lamar Young, 506 Park Ave., surrendered at the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office late Monday morning. He was released from the Thomas County Jail on a $7,500 bond.

Young also is charged with no rabies tag.

Thirteen of the 25 dogs found at the H. Sherrod Road fight site are owned by Young, said Jason Shoudel, a sheriff’s office investigator.

The animal cruelty charge on Young involves a pit bull that was disfigured in dog fights.

Other dogs seized last week had old scars. A Thomasville veterinarian said four canines had scars consistent with dogfighting, according to Sgt. Tonya Twyman, who works in animal control at the Thomasville-Thomas County Humane Society animal shelter.

Richardo Shuntrell Mitchell, 25, 1104 Isobel St., and Larry Love Hansell, 55, 317 Allen St., also surrendered Monday in the case.

Mitchell and Hansell are charged with no rabies tag, Twyman said. They were released from jail on bonds of $550 each.

The humane society received an anonymous tip Monday, Aug. 22, about dogfighting in the 16000 block of H. Sherrod Road. Animal control officers found a dog-fighting ring near woods in the back yard of a residence. They also found dogs chained to trees.

One of the chains weighed 35 pounds, Twyman said Monday.

The dogs are housed at an undisclosed location.

The dog-fighting ring appeared to have been in the construction stages. Support posts were set in concrete that had not hardened when officers arrived.

“We had several complaints from residents in the area who suspected there was some possible dogfighting at that residence,” Shoudel explained.

The investigation of dog-fighting activity is ongoing.

Charges brought in the case so far will be turned over to the district attorney’s office.



Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 220.