First big dogfighting bust of 2025 follows bust of alleged dog hauler

No link disclosed,  but suggestive geography

LUZERNE COUNTY,  Pennsylvania––Pennsylvania State Police on March 6,  2025 disclosed having impounded 28 pit bulls from a home on Ridge Avenue in West Hazleton,  Pennsylvania,  eight days after executing a search warrant on February 27,  2025 that brought the first major U.S. alleged dogfighting bust of the year.

Geography suggested a possible connection with the February 4,  2025 arrest about 70 miles away of an alleged pit bull hauler for dogfighters operating out of Houston,  Texas.

At the West Hazleton scene of the mass pit bull impoundment,  a semi-residential,  semi-industrial neighborhood bordering on woods,  Cranberry Creek,  and State Route 924,   “Troopers said they found numerous items related to animal fighting,”  reported Vivian Muniz and Gianna Galli for WBRE/WYOU Eyewitness News in Scranton,  Pennsylvania.

19 pit bulls in crates,  eight in shed

“Nineteen dogs were found in crates inside while eight were discovered inside a backyard shed,”  Muniz and Galli detailed.  “The dogs showed scars on their head,  chest,  and legs,  a sign of dog fighting,  according to investigators.

“Troopers said one dog was running loose on the property before being captured.”

The pit bulls were reportedly taken into custody by Tracey Morgan-Chopick of the Luzerne County Animal Response Team.

The Griffin Pond Animal Shelter “temporarily cared for the dogs until they were placed in the care of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals [ASPCA]” recounted Muniz and Galli.

Springpoles,  treadmills,  & scars

“Upon arrival on scene,”  according to an ASPCA statement,  “law enforcement discovered dogfighting paraphernalia,  including weighted collars and heavy chains, springpoles,  treadmills,  and medical supplies,  which included IV materials, dog aspirin,  and parasite growth retardant solution.

“Some dogs were also observed with scarring and injuries consistent with dogfighting,”  the ASPCA statement confirmed.

“The ASPCA tells 28/22 News the dogs are receiving medical and behavioral evaluations until placement options are determined,”  Muniz and Galli said.

“The person inside the home at the time of the search warrant was taken to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility on unrelated charges.

“Police are still investigating. There is no word yet if anyone has been charged in connection with the dogfighting ring,”  Muniz and Galli added.

ASPCA assistance in perspective

“In just the past year alone,”  Muniz and Galli concluded,  “nationwide the ASPCA has assisted law enforcement with 17 cases of suspected dogfighting.”

“Assisted” does not appear to include doing the primary investigation leading to dogfighting busts.

The ASPCA,  as of the most recent available IRS Form 990 filing,  for fiscal year 2022,  had income of $376 million,  paying chief executive Matt Bershadker total compensation for the year of more than $1.1 million.

By contrast,  Showing Animals Respect & Kindness does the primary investigation leading to about as many cockfighting busts per year as the number of dogfighting busts the ASPCA claims to have assisted with after the fact,  on a total annual budget of less than a third of Bershadker’s salary.

Showing Animals Respect & Kindness founder and chief executive Steve Hindi has never taken a salary.

“Driving under the influence”

The chain of events leading to the bust in West Hazleton,  an economically depressed former coal town,  may have begun at 8:47 a.m. on February 4,  2025,  when Pennsylvania state trooper Thomas Rehberg stopped a 2010 Mazda CX7  near Interstate 84 west mile marker 25.8,  in Palymra Township,  Pike County,  about 70 miles from West Hazleton.

“The driver,  Edwin Bradley,”  41,  of Houston,  Texas  “was discovered to be driving under the influence of drugs,  and in possession of drugs and related drug paraphernalia,”  according to the arrest report.

“Through a consent to search of the vehicle,  five pit bull dogs in small cages were observed in unsanitary conditions,”  the arrest report continued.  “Some of the dogs had open sores and were bleeding from their bodies.”

“Previously charged three times with dogfighting in Texas”

Taken into custody and questioned at the Pennsylvania State Police station in Blooming Grove,  Bradley was discovered to have been “previously charged three separate times with felony dogfighting in Texas.

“Numerous indicators of dog trafficking for fighting were discovered,”  the arrest report summarized.  “During the investigation it was discovered that that Bradley is a part of a large-scale dogfighting organization in Houston,  Texas,  and is a transport man for individuals who want pit bull dogs for fighting delivered.”

Local shelters would not take the pit bulls

After “All shelters around and in Pike County were contacted,”  but refused to take in the five impounded pit bulls,   they were “transported by Pittsburg Aviation Animal Rescue to Philadelphia,   and housed by the Pennsylvania Society to Prevent Cruelty to Animals,”  the arrest report finished.

“It was unclear precisely where Bradley was allegedly taking the dogs,”  reported Joe Kohut for WNEP News in Scranton,  adding,  “The dogs were locked in small, unsanitary cages. Some had open sores that were actively bleeding.

“Glassy & bloodshot eyes”

“Bradley was jailed in Pike County in lieu of $25,000 bail.”

But Vivian Muniz of WBRE/WYOU,  who later covered the West Hazleton bust,  reported that “Bradley told troopers that he was driving from Connecticut to Houston with dogs he had just picked up.

“Troopers said he had glassy and bloodshot eyes.

“The smell of marijuana was coming from the vehicle and a THC vape was seen,  leading troopers to believe he was driving under the influence,”  Muniz added,  mentioning also that the pit bulls “looked malnourished,  and were bleeding from the mouth.”

Cockfighting bust in proximity

Bradley may have only been passing through,  but animal fighting is scarcely unknown in Luzerne County.

Acting on a tip about cockfighting,  the Luzerne County SPCA and detectives for the county district attorney’s office on April 10,  2024 “executed a search warrant on the residence of Reynaldo DeJesus Castillo,  62,  and Annies Martires Castillo,  69,  on Sugarloaf Heights Road,”  Emily Cherkauskas and Taylor Whartnaby reported for WOLF-TV in Wilkes-Barre.

“The search yielded 77 live hens,  59 live roosters,  two dead roosters,  30 eggs,  multiple gloves used to cover rooster spurs to practice fighting,  and a package of ‘Super Vermi-Gallo,’  a substance known to be used to promote fighting,”  Luzerne County district attorney Sam Sanguedolce said.

“Hundreds of charges”

The Castillos were in August 2004 hit with “hundreds of charges including animal neglect,  fighting,  and conspiracy,”  Cherkauskas updated.

The Castillos’ address on Sugarloaf Heights Road was 10 miles north of Ridge Avenue in West Hazleton,  where the 28 pit bulls were found on February 27,  2025.

An address search indicates that that the Castillos formerly lived in West Hazleton,  and may now live in Connecticut.

Please donate to support our work:

More related posts: