Scott Brothers Get Dogs Back After Dog Fighting Case Dropped

By ABC-7 Reporter Jill Galus

Las Cruces, New Mexico -The dog fighting case – dropped. And the canines – picked up.

The reunion made possible after New Mexico Court of Appeals ruled the search warrant in the case illegal.

Eddie, China, Ginger – cage to cage, Daron and Duryea Scott claimed a dozen of their pitbulls Tuesday.

But some confusion created a trail of sticky paws for the brothers at the Mesilla Valley Animal Services Center.

“There are 12 dogs we’re going to get back today and between four properties, 43 dogs that are missing,” Duryea Scott said. “We know by reports that some were stolen, some were lost, some were given back to people who came into the animal shelter and given to the wrong people by mistake.”

Police seized dozens of pitbulls from four different properties owned by the duo more than two years ago.

The Mesilla Valley Animal Services Center has since housed the dogs.

The Scott brothers faced several counts of dog fighting and animal cruelty charges.

Last month, all charges dropped when the searched warrant deemed improperly obtained.

And the reunion was free of charge for the Scotts.

Officials with Animal Control initially claimed, the Scotts had a 30-day window to pick up the dogs.

And since it is past the month mark, the brothers were told they would be charged.

“Why should I have to pay for dogs that you illegally took,” Daron Scott said.

Animal Control officials say, it is a matter of miscommunication.

“I don’t know whose issue it is – is it their issue, is it our issue,” Curtis Childress said. “So we’re just gonna forgo any fees to that point.”

The Scotts scheduled to pick up eight more of their pitbulls next Tuesday.

These other eight did not go home today because five are at another facility and three are still in foster care.