This is starting to get sad...DMX's home now raided

[themike]

I am not a fan of PETA, but these are the things they should be on the forefront of:


PHOENIX - Sheriff's deputies raided the home of rapper DMX on Friday, seizing several pit bulls and finding the remains of three other dogs but making no arrests.

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office received a tip more than a week ago about dogs being kept in inhumane conditions at the Phoenix-area home, said Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Detectives visited the home and then called one of the rapper's lawyers and told him that the conditions for the animals at the property needed to be improved or deputies would take action, Arpaio said. The dogs were not being fed or given water.

Authorities returned to the home Friday.

The 36-year-old musician and actor, whose real name is Earl Simmons, was not at home during the raid.

Simmons' lawyer, Murray Richman, said Simmons hasn't been in Arizona for at least two months and was "extremely disturbed" to hear the animals weren't being cared for properly.

"We had a caretaker that wasn't taking care, that's what happened," Richman said. "He loves dogs _ he loves these animals. Those dogs are practically his family."

Richman said he hadn't been notified of problems at the property until he learned of the raid Friday. Sheriff's officials said they had contacted another lawyer who works for DMX.

Arpaio said the deputies who served a search warrant at the home Friday seized 12 pit bulls tied up on the property and took them to an old jail that has been converted into an animal shelter.

Deputies found the buried dogs when they dug up the back yard. One had apparently been burned and the cause of death on the others was unknown because the bodies were decomposing.

Deputies also found a variety of firearms, Arpaio said. Authorities sought additional warrants so they could check the guns to determine if they were legal.

DMX's albums include "It's Dark and Hell Is Hot" and "Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood" and "Year of the Dog ... Again."

[Justine]

 

[msmustanggirl50]

  I am getting sick of these stories I think it is time to  start treating the offenders like they treated the dogs. And in 2 days the NAACP will be calling racism again grrr

[reidel1]

This is beyond disgusting.....why do these high profile people think they are above the law??
So O.K. he claims that he left someone to care for the dogs.....I always check in with my pet-sitters at least once while I'm away.....and I always have a back-up person....and have sent someone to "check-up" on things...

If Mr. DMX cares so much for his pets..he needs to take greater responsibility!!! And yes I'm sure this will be blamed on his "horrid childhood" and yes I'm sure there will be some that say "it's a race thing".

[brumzoo]

This isn't the first time DMX has had pit bulls seized. He was charged with animal cruelty in 2002. I put the paragraph in bold.

http://209.157.64.200/focus/f-news/1886151/posts

Deputies with the Maricopa County sheriff's office raided the Cave Creek, Arizona, home of rapper DMX on Friday morning (August 24), and according to a police spokesperson, 12 pit bulls were removed from the residence, all in bad condition. Police would not get into specifics but did say the animals are being tended to by veterinarians.

At this point, DMX (real name: Earl Simmons) has not been officially charged with any crime, but police are still investigating. DMX was not at his home at the time of the raid, during which police also discovered a large cache of weapons. Police do not believe the rapper is in Arizona but would like to question him as part of their investigation.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is expected to speak more about the investigation during a press conference outside DMX's Cave Creek home at about 6 p.m. ET.

This isn't the first time police have taken an interest in DMX's dogs. Back in 2002, the rapper pleaded guilty in New Jersey to charges of animal cruelty, stemming from a 1998 raid of DMX's home. Police claimed he had neglected 13 pit bulls. He eventually plea-bargained down to fines, probation and community service, and even starred in a public-service announcement against animal abuse.

The DMX news comes the same day that NFL star Michael Vick admitted his own involvement with dogfighting (see "Why Does The Michael Vick Case Hurt Hip-Hop?"). The Atlanta Falcons quarterback told the U.S. District Court in Richmond, Virginia, that he would plead guilty to "conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture." Vick faces a maximum term of five years in prison and $250,000 in fines.