Fighting (dog)
Date 7/22/2004
County Hillsborough
Suspect James Edward Keister Jr. and Anastasia Concepcion Usher
Address 10004 N. 14th St., Tampa, FL 33612
Animals seized 24
Animal type pit bull dogs
Brian Jackson poked his fingers through a cage in the back of a Hillsborough County Animal Control van and scratched his chocolate-brown and white female pit bull behind the ears and under the chin.
The dog, whom Jackson called Coco, was one of 24 pit bulls Tampa police and animal control officers seized Tuesday from a duplex at 10004 N. 14th St. after executing a search warrant.
Authorities are investigating whether the 12 adult dogs, some of which were missing small patches of fur or had scars on their muzzles, and 12 puppies were used or trained for fighting.
The duplex's tenants, James Edward Keister Jr., 24, and Anastasia Concepcion Usher, 26, were not at home when authorities arrived. Charges against them are pending but likely will include misdemeanor animal cruelty, police said.
A city ordinance prohibits keeping more than four large animals at the same property, police said.
Police and animal control officers seized 10 other dogs from the duplex in June. Charges from that date are pending, police said.
Jackson, 17, and his aunt Maria Mendez, 38, who live down the street, said Keister provides veterinary care for their pets. Mendez asked officers what would become of her white male pit bull, Gucci, whom she said Keister was treating for heartworm.
"He takes care of a lot of people who can't afford a vet," Mendez said. "These are good, hardworking people."
Public records show Keister has no veterinary license. He was released from Orient Road Jail on $7,500 bail July 11 after police charged him with felony child abuse. His girlfriend's son accused Keister of hitting and scratching him, a police report states. That disposition is pending.
Officer Greg Hattle, who was involved in the seizure in June, requested the search warrant after he stopped by the house Monday and found several dogs in the back yard, one with "fresh wounds."
The wounded dog was not at the duplex Tuesday. Hattle described the others as being in "moderate condition."
Some were kept in the back yard, which smelled of urine, and others were in cages in a bedroom or locked in a bathroom, police said.
"There's no quality of life for these animals, the way they're confined," said animal services Cpl. Ken Vetzel.
In addition to the dogs, authorities seized several chains, leashes and weights thought to be worn by the animals, injectable drugs for the treatment of animal wounds, a 12-gauge shotgun, a semiautomatic .22-caliber pistol and about 2 ounces of marijuana.
Hattle said they also found several books and pictures describing the dogs' conditions and pedigree.
The dogs' owners can petition the court through a series of custody hearings to recover their pets, Hattle said. Otherwise, "if they are adoptable, they will be."
Date 6/1/2004
Animals seized 10
Animal type pit bull dogs
Police and animal control officers seized 10 other dogs from the duplex in June. Charges from that date are pending, police said.
