Fresno man facing dog fighting charges shares his story with ABC30

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The man who cheered on a dog fight and then posted it on his Facebook before being arrested is telling his side of the story.

The Fresno man at the center of dogfighting allegations is sitting down to explain his side of the story.

William Weir was arrested Tuesday and bailed out of jail Wednesday night. He says the dog mauling wasn't as it appears in the Facebook video he posted and the small dog under attack never died.

Weir explained, "I do understand the outrage, because me as a dog lover, if I had seen that and had no personal attachments to my dog, I probably would've been like that's messed up, that little bitty dog. Probably."

Weir isn't proud of the comments he blurted out in his front yard while his dogs mangled a smaller dog last weekend.

At the time, he says he was glad his dogs were getting the upper hand when he was heard giving mean, violent commands during a brutal dogfight in his front yard.

"These stray dogs do this to my dog and I just felt anger, I'm like, I don't care, the dog's attacking my dog," said Weir. "He came in my yard, chased my daughter, I was angry."

Fresno police are investigating whether Weir was training his pit bulls to fight. And if nearly 60 dead dogs dumped near his home could be linked to him or a dogfighting operation.

"I am not a dogfighter," said Weir. "Never been into fighting dogs in my life, never seen a dogfight. I love pit bulls."

His neighbor says he is outside every day and has never seen any evidence or sign of dogfighting at Weirs home.

"I've seen him interact with them," said Grover Daniel Blevins. "He was never vicious with them. He has always been a good caring guy, he loved his dogs. Why somebody would say he was attached to a dogfighting ring is beyond me because he has never fought them."

Fresno police say the puppy seen in the Facebook video died as a result of the attack. But Weir claims the small dog lived.

Action News was there Tuesday when Weir surrendered his dogs and was arrested. Investigators also said he is a gang member with a long criminal record.

"My past is my past," said Weir. "I am an ex-gang member."

But these days Weir says he works two jobs to make ends meet and support his kids. But he is finding overcoming his past difficult, especially since he has a history of violence.

ABC30 said, "Obviously your past has come into play, carjacking, 12 years in prison."

"I was 17 for starters," replied Weir. "Two, I did 12 and a half years in prison. I got out. I've been out 8 years. I am off parole."

Weir is hoping officials will return his dogs once they see the animals are not vicious. But now, he is facing a new felony and many problems that could send him back to prison for up to six years.

The dogs will be held until a judge decides whether they are vicious. Then they could either be returned to Weir, put to sleep or adopted.