A Salt Lake City man, who allegedly ran after police searched his home and found what they believed to be a dog fighting operation, turned himself into authorities Wednesday. Keith Ornette Harris, 40, is charged with 7 counts of dog fighting and three count of animal cruelty, dating back to an incident in November of 2008.
Police had received calls that Harris was training dogs to fight at his home at 338 West Lucy Avenue.
According to court documents investigators found "seven adult, male pit bull dogs, two of which were chained up without water, and a third which was crated in its own waste, again without water. Officers discovered the paraphernalia, to include treadmills, along with other
indicia and evidence that the dogs where being trained for fighting."
According to court documents Harris fled as soon as officers questioned him.
"Although it's illegal in Utah it still does happen in the state," says Gene Baierschmidt, the Executive Director of the Humane Society of Utah. Baierschmidt says it does not appear that dog fighting happens with greater frequency in Utah than in other states, but he says it is not uncommon.
The executive director says the training methods used by clandestine dog trainers are particularly barbaric, "often there are bait animals that are used such as cats, rabbits, smaller dogs that are killed when this is done in the training," says Baierschmidt.
Experts also say, in addition to illegal dog fighting, the activity is a breeding ground for other illegal activities, "it's very common for there to be drug dealing, fire arms, and especially gambling," says Baierschmidt.
One witness told us that he saw as many as 30 Pit Bulls being c
rated in Harris's backyard at one time, and when we were invited into a backyard with views into Harris's property, we did see at least one Pit Bull but when we returned to our vehicle to get a camera to take pictures, the dog had been removed, apparently by the owner, and taken into the home.
Harris turned himself in on Wednesday, and is currently awaiting his first court hearing.
As for the dogs removed from the backyard, we are told they all had to be put down.
