DALLAS, Ga. — A Georgia man was sentenced to 475 years in prison after authorities rescued more than 100 malnourished pit bulls from a dogfighting operation at his home, officials said.
Vincent Lemark Burrell, 57, was convicted this week on multiple counts of dogfighting and animal cruelty charges. Investigators said Burrell had been breeding, training, and facilitating fights involving pit bulls at his Paulding County property.
Authorities raided Burrell’s home on Old Cartersville Road on Nov. 8, 2022, and found 106 dogs in various conditions. Some were emaciated, while others were aggressive due to training. Many were tied to trees and metal stakes with heavy chains, left without adequate food, water, or shelter.
The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, along with multiple local agencies, secured search warrants and removed the dogs, placing them with rescue facilities for rehabilitation. Officials said the animals endured severe neglect and harsh conditions.
Burrell’s sentencing marks one of the most severe punishments for a dogfighting case in Georgia, underscoring the state’s crackdown on animal cruelty.