Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott announced that the Pitt Bulls rescued from dog fighting ring are now receiving medical treatment and care they deserve.

The 24 dogs have received their shots, heartworm tested, micro chipped, and receiving Iverhart max which protects against heartworm, roundworms, hookworms, and checking for distemper. Sheriff Lott notes that this is a tremendous undertaking and quite expensive as well. There has been a foundation set up to help assist and offset some of the costs in caring of the dogs and to cover medical expenses along with boarding. In the very near future we will look for caring homes to volunteer to foster a dog or two until they can be adopted.

If anyone is interested in assisting with fostering one or more of the dogs you can contact Pawmetto Lifeline at 803-622-4748 – anyone interested in making a donation should make checks payable to: The Richland County Sheriff’s Foundation, 5623 Two Notch Road, Columbia, SC 29202

Sheriff Lott announced the arrest of Stanley Taylor (DOB: 12/09/87) charged with two counts of felony dog fighting, Jolisa Cole (DOB: 01/28/91) charged with knowingly attending a dog fight, and Santerrio Smith (DOB: 07/19/88) charged with two counts of attempted murder

Sheriff Lott stated that on Thursday, September 8, 2011 at approximately 6:00 PM Richland County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to 647 Camp Ground Road in reference to a complaint of dogs barking in the woods between 633 and 647 Camp Ground Road. Upon arrival deputies observed several dogs chained to the ground along a path with evidence of mistreatment.

There were several individuals present at 647 Camp Ground Road watching two Pit Bulls fight. Deputies were able to arrest Taylor at the scene. Sheriff Leon Lott stated that Smith and Cole jumped into a vehicle in an attempt to flee – deputies ordered them out of the vehicle as Smith drove the vehicle towards the deputies at a high rate of speed in an attempt to run them over and sped away from the location.

Smith and Cole were arrested on Friday, September 23, 2011 in a ditch beside the Days Inn (Plumbers Road) by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department Fugitive Task Force. Smith and Cole were apprehended after receiving information on their whereabouts by a family member.

The investigation into the dog fighting at 647 Camp Ground Road continues and more arrests are forthcoming. The main priorities of the investigation are the wellbeing of the animals and the prosecution of those responsible. The dogs were awarded to the State during a hearing in magistrate’s court. The twenty-four dogs have received a preliminary evaluation by a veterinarian and will remain in the care of the Richland County

Smith was out of jail on $150,000 bond for another unrelated attempted murder charge. Taylor and Cole are out on bond. Smith is currently detained at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.