Key figure who arranged dog fight events throughout Carolinas arrested: Sheriff

IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A key figure who arranged dogfighting events in the Carolinas and other states has been arrested, the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office announced.

A search warrant was executed on Thursday, Feb. 1, at a home along Whitney Lane regarding an investigation into a dog fighting operation. Claude Sanders, 46, of Statesville, was arrested and faces multiple charges including 24 counts of felony cruelty to animals.

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“Authorities identified Claude Sanders Jr. as a key figure in the training, distributing, and arranging of dog fights in North Carolina, South Carolina, and other states,” Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell said on Friday.

“Investigators located various items used to train dogs to fight, medication and treatment supplies for injured dogs, marijuana, and a handgun, and seized 25 dogs. The conditions that some of the dogs were found in were deplorable,” the sheriff’s office said. “A large number of the dogs were kept in outside kennels, and most of these were covered in feces and urine. Several of the dogs had obvious scars and facial injuries from previous dog fights. There were also signs of forced breeding and various exercise equipment to develop strength and stamina.”

Sanders is being held at the Iredell County Detention Center on a $200,000 secured bond. He has a criminal history that includes motor vehicle larceny and drug-related charges.

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