Gaston Co. Police: Repeat dog fighter arrested again

GASTONIA, N.C. – A Gastonia man accused of dog fighting faces new animal cruelty charges. Rico Pagan is charged with five more counts of animal cruelty and dog fighting.

Gaston County Animal Care and Enforcement responded to a vacant lot along Queens Road in Gastonia last month after receiving several tips from concerned neighbors. They seized 5 dogs in dire need of medical treatment. Gaston County Police arrested Pagan last week.

He was arrested in 2021 after nine dogs were rescued from an alleged dog fighting ring.