Dogs confiscated after abuse allegations

GASTONIA, N.C. -- Six pit bulls are now in the care of Gaston County Animal Control, because police say their owner abused them.

Rico Pagan of Gastonia is charged with nearly a dozen counts of animal cruelty.

Police say he tortured at least one of his dogs, starved others and denied them veterinary care.

Pagan made a video appearance in court Friday afternoon and denied the allegations.

"I take care of my dogs; I love my dogs like I love my kids," Pagan told the judge. "I didn't harm my dogs in any way. One of them had just gotten sick from the bad weather."

Police say the incidents took place at Pagan's home on West Sixth Avenue in Gastonia, which he rented from his neighbor.

As a dog owner himself, Pagan's neighbor Boyd Bostic was shocked to learn of the charges.

"You treat [the dog] like a member of the family, you protect it, you take care of it, just like you would a small kid," he said.

Bostic said that he knew something was wrong when Animal Control confiscated the dogs.

"The one that I'd seen was pretty skinny, you could count his ribs probably," said Bostic. "It's terrible, it shouldn't have happened. If he was going to have dogs, he should've been taking care of them."

Pagan remains at the Gaston County jail on a $13,000 bond.