Owner Starts Petition
Center, TX - In the City of Center, Texas (population about 5,200), a resident has undergone a horrifying experience. His chocolate Labrador named Red was stolen by two men and may have been used as a "bait dog." Dogfighters use bait animals to give a fighting dog a taste for blood. Dogfighters adopt bait animals from local shelters and steal them people's yards and homes.

Donnis Adams, the owner of Red, said his dog was taken from him on Sunday July 20th. He said that the fate of Red was not just a personal loss, but also a professional one. Adams is both a breeder and trainer of hunting dogs. Adams said Red's pedigree valued him at $5,000. To put a stop to pet stealing for bait animals, Adams has started a petition to ban pit bulls in the City of Center.

Letter to Editor: Petition to the City of Center to Ban the Possession of Pit Bulls Inside the City Limits

On the afternoon of July 20th my pet Labrador Retriever was stolen by two Hispanic males in a red car. Subsequent investigations found that he had been taken to a location that I cannot release at this time. When I went to this location I saw numerous pit bulls with their ears and tails cropped along with numerous fighting cocks. These animals are like this for one reason and that is so that another dog cannot grip an ear or tail when fighting. It is believed by law enforcement and myself that my cherished pet, who never met anyone he didn't like and trusted, was used for a "bait dog". These are animals that are not bred to fight that are given to pit bulls so that they can get a taste of blood. That is what happened to the animal that I loved and cherished for 6 years. If you have had a pet that has come up missing it has probably reached this same fate. As citizens it is time to act. It may be too late for my pet but we can help stop the next pet from this horrible fate or the next child from being bitten.
As a result of the loss of my beloved Lab, Red, who was a registered chocolate lab; I have started a petition to ban pit bulls from the City. I have placed these petitions at the Texas State Bank, Jack’s Saw Shop and First Place Graphics and Awards. There is a $850.00 REWARD for the safe return of this dog. No questions asked.

Donnis Adams
Labrador Point Kennels

Center, TX


In a printed newspaper cover article that is not available online (it was scanned and sent to DogsBite.org), Adams describes the incident further. After realizing that his dog was not returning when he called his name, he looked down the road and saw a red car with the front windows rolled down. The car passed him, but the men inside did not look at Adams. It struck him that his dog might be in that car.

Adams called the Sheriff's department and described the incident. Two officers came to his house, but without a license plate, there was not much they could do. After they left, Adams hopped in his car and went looking for the red vehicle. He did not have any luck. The next day, as he hung fliers around town, he did spot the red car. This time he wrote down the license plate number.

He also followed the car until it drove into a mobile home park. At this point, he called the Sheriff back and talked with a deputy. The officer told Adams they would check it out, and if they found Red, they would retrieve him. Four hours later, Adams learned that the officer had not found Red, but he had seen many other dogs at the mobile home park.

This was too much for Adams curiosity. He drove into the mobile home park to see for himself. As he was driving in, he saw many chained up pit bulls. They all had their ears cropped short and their tales bobbed. When he reached the red car, he saw cages of fighting cocks -- he estimates about 200. There were also 5 pit bulls nearby. These dogs were posed for fighting as well with cropped ears and bobbed tails.

The investigation into Adams case continues. Adams will attend a City Council meeting Monday evening and present his petition.