Gainesville man arrested on dogfighting and animal cruelty charges after officers find 12 dogs in padlocked kennels

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Clinton Eugene Thomas, 43, was arrested yesterday after a search warrant reportedly found 12 dogs in padlocked kennels, some without water or food, along with training devices that are associated with dogfighting.

On March 11, Gainesville Police Department officers assisted Alachua County Animal Resources (ACAR) with executing a search warrant at 3023 NE 12th Street after receiving a report about animal cruelty and dogfighting.

Officers reported finding seven adult dogs and five puppies, along with training devices and medications that are often associated with dogfighting. One dog was in a wire crate covered in feces and had injuries on its paws and scarring on its legs, head, and face; that dog and one other dog had to be removed from their crates with bolt cutters because the crates were locked with pipe clamps. A female dog had missing or filed-down teeth, consistent with practices used with bait dogs and breeding. Two other dogs had significant scarring all over their bodies, and several had large or weighted collars that are often used to train fighting dogs.

One puppy had no water and appeared lethargic. Four three-month-old puppies were confined in a raised kennel that was approximately 6 feet by 4 feet, and they had no food or water.

The search also produced numerous prescription medications, supplies for wound treatment, and training tools, including weights, a treadmill, and protein powder.

While officers were executing the search warrant, Thomas arrived at the property and said the dogs were his; he said he controls the property and comes every day to care for the dogs.

After Thomas was arrested, one of his family members told an officer that Thomas “wasn’t even fighting dogs today.”

Post Miranda, Thomas reportedly said he has kept dogs on the property for several years as a “hobby,” but he does not breed or sell the dogs; he could not explain why he had so many dogs. He said he buys food for the dogs and spends hours with them every week. He also said some of the dogs belong to his friends, and he cares for them at no cost.

Thomas reportedly said he is in the process of moving into the residence on the property and goes there every day to take care of the dogs; he said he walks each dog every other day, except for the puppies, which stay in the kennel at all times.

When he was shown a picture of a three-month-old puppy found with no food or water in a wire crate that was about two feet by three feet, had no plastic bottom, and was sitting on a wooden pallet that was covered in feces, Thomas reportedly said he couldn’t stop the puppy from turning the food and water bowls over. He was reportedly told that he could use an angular bowl that doesn’t turn over or check on the puppy more frequently, particularly when it’s hot, as it was on March 11.

Thomas reportedly said there was nothing wrong with the conditions in which he kept his animals. He said the dogs were never used for fighting while they were in his possession, but he could neither confirm nor deny if the dogs had previously been used for fighting.

When he was shown a picture of significant scars on one of the dogs, Thomas reportedly said those were “self-inflicted wounds” from trying to get out of the kennels. However, ACAR advised that the scarring was consistent with dogfighting and did not appear to be self-inflicted.

Thomas reportedly said the weighted collars were to condition the dogs for “hog hunting,” but he could not provide any details about how he trains or uses the dogs for hog hunting. He said he rotated the dogs on the chain in the back yard because dogs are “greedy,” and he used it for “exercise.” He said multiple times that he is not abusing the dogs and that they are not used for fighting.

Thomas said his phone did not contain any evidence of dogfighting, but he reportedly refused to show it to the officers.

Thomas has been charged with keeping dogs for the purpose of organized dogfighting and eight counts of cruelty to animals for confining the dogs without food or water. He has one misdemeanor conviction and one felony conviction, both from many years ago; he has a long list of dropped charges, including two charges related to animal cruelty in 2016 that were later dropped. Thomas was released from the jail before First Appearance.

The dogs were seized by ACAR, leading shelter volunteers to express concern about whether dogs at the shelter would again be euthanized to make room for the new dogs, as was the case when a similar incident occurred in December 2025.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.