http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/l...?storyid=44438


Dog Found Locked In Trunk

By Victor Blackwell
First Coast News

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- It started as a routine traffic stop. Just after
1:00 a.m. Sunday. A Jacksonville Sheriff's Officer pulled a car over and
ran the names of the two people inside. The officer found the passenger,
Thaddeus Thomas, was wanted. But what he found during the search of the
car was much worse.

"During that search, they found this dog in the trunk of the car," said
Ken Jefferson, the public information officer for the Jacksonville
Sheriff's Office.

According to the police report, the dog had, "open/bleeding facial
wounds, multiple scars (on her face, ears, neck, and legs), was
extremely scared and appeared to be extremely underfed."

Thomas, 21, and the 17-year old driver told conflicting stories about
why they had the dog in the trunk.

Jacksonville Animal Care and Control officers have seen this type of
abuse before.

"Injuries around the muzzle, the face, the neck.. that's indicative of a
dog that is used in dog fighting," said Dave Flagler, Director of
Jacksonville Animal Care and Control.

Thomas and the teen driver were arrested and charged with animal cruelty.

The pit bull is with Jacksonville Animal Care and Control.

"The officer in this case did an excellent job by doing a minor thing.
Just noticing the tag that didn't look right and he pulled the car over
and during that time he found the dog," said Jefferson.

Flagler says signs of dog fighting are decreasing, but not quickly enough.

"One day, hopefully we'll learn our lesson and we'll be more respectful
of the animals that we are commissioned to protect," said Flagler.

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