Eagles running back Bryce Brown landed in the news this weekend because dogs belonging to him were seized in May as part of an investigation into dogfighting charges brought against a Wisconsin dog breeder called Northland Pits.
The dogs -- a female pit bull named Eilis and her seven puppies -- were returned to Brown last week without any charges being brought against Brown. Joseph Sudbrink, owner of Northland Pits, has been arrested and charged with mistreating animals and operating as a dog breeder without a license as part of what the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram calls a continuing investigation into his company’s activities. Brown took to Twitter Sunday to offer his support for Sudbrink, who he believes is being unfairly targeted because of the reputation of pit bulls.
“My dog was returned to me quickly because it was obvious that she is not and never has been involved with dog fighting,” Brown wrote. “Northland Pits is a respectable breeder which has unfortunately been the target of anti-breeding groups and “animal rights,” activists who know nothing about what he is doing there, and assume it is related to dog fighting due to the breed of the dogs. He is a victim in this case, just as I am. He takes great care of his dogs and Eilis wouldn’t have been breeding there otherwise.”
The authorities in Wisconsin disagree with Brown’s take at the moment, which isn’t really a matter of great importance for the Eagles. Brown’s lack of involvement of illegal activities involving dogs is and it means that we probably won’t be hearing much else on this front.