On Tuesday, officials with Hillsborough County Animal Control along with Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies arrested two men for running a two-decade long dog fighting operation in Seffner.

Animal Control spokesperson, Marti Ryan, said they received a tip about the operation, and acted immediately.

“The call we received was about dogs with injuries or dead on the property. Prior to that call, we hadn’t received any complaints.”

Ryan said they recovered 7 dogs from the property at 6846 Stark Road, in various medical conditions. She said some of the dogs were in pretty good shape, but were being bound by chains weighing more than 25 pounds each.

“These people bait the animals by teaching them as puppies to attack each other,” said Ryan.

“One of the dogs was being used exclusively as a breeder. They were all mostly pit bulls.”

Vannie Franklin, (pictured right), 55, and his nephew, Russell Franklin, (pictured left) 41, were arrested and charged with various animal cruelty and baiting animal charges. Vannie’s bond is set at $57,500, and Russell’s bond is set at $14,000.

According to records, Vannie Franklin hadn’t been arrested in Hillsborough County prior to this incident. However, Russell Franklin had been arrested 29 times, dating back to 1995, on charges ranging from marijuana possession to carrying a concealed weapon.

Ryan said Vannie Franklin told investigators he had probably buried over 100 dogs over the past 20 years on the property.

“What we’ve found so far doesn’t verify that. We found drugs and weapons on the property, and fortunately none of the dogs needed to be euthanized. We also haven’t determined if the dead animals were tortured or just fought to death.

“I found it very unnerving how Vannie Franklin acted about the situation. He spoke about the incident without any remorse for the animals, and was very open and cavalier about the laws he’s broken, and the suffering of the animals. He acted as if it was all a natural thing.”

Ryan said as investigators were arresting the two men, a relative appeared and said she had warned them to stop the activity.

“The relative made reference to Michael Vick, and told them if Vick couldn’t get away with it, what made them think they could?

“What we learned was that the abuse and death of the animals in their minds was just the cost of doing business.”

Ryan said the property was very isolated and the roadway leading to the property was so soft, you couldn’t drive on it.

“You could only go so far in a vehicle before you had to park and walk the rest of the way. The property was so isolated that people in the area said they were stunned about what was going on.”

According to the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser’s website, the property is part of the estate of Bertha Franklin. Authorities did not know her relationship with the two men, or if she was the family member who arrived during the arrests.

Ryan said Animal Control will petition the court for custody of the animals, and make a request that Vannie Franklin not be allowed to own dogs again. After that, they will proceed with the criminal phase.