It isn’t unheard of for someone to adopt an adult in prison; it gives them rights, as family members to help facilitate medical needs or other things that would be hard to negotiate. Paul was looking for someone to help him start a dog breeding business. He asked his sister and a few other people to help him. Finally he got a woman to agree to keep dogs he had purchased with money he got from suing the penal system. That’s correct, this convict sued the system and won cash settlement of around $20,000.00. She was an outreach worker named Janet Combs that visited his cell mate Dale, who also wanted to be in the breeding business. Paul and Dale secured advertising space in the magazine, Dog Fancy, for his breeding business. The name was Dogs O’ War Kennels. Paul was ready to start his business.

The breed of dog he chose was an unusual choice: the Presa Canario. Originally from Spain, the breed Presa Canario is not specifically bred for fighting, or as an animal trained for protection. Unfortunately the breed have been forever tainted by the notoriety of this high profile case. Massive heads, very broad shoulders and a barrel shaped chest are some of the characteristics of a pure bred Presa Canario. Many dogs are cross-bred with other like breeds and sold as Presa Canario. Unless you are dealing with an accredited breeder with very specific breeding and training, it is possible to obtain an animal that could be unpredictable, vicious or have any other numbers of flaws or medical problems. Paul asked this woman, named Janet Combs, who lived on a large farm to keep and care for the dogs and keep him abreast of all the dogs and all their temperaments. Unfortunately, Ms. Combs let the animals run loose on her farm, where they killed livestock and fought with themselves and other animals. Paul asked for photos of the dogs so he could see them for himself. She sent him one of his prize stud, Bane, cuddling with a kitten. He was enraged and wrote her that she was, “turning Bane into a wuss. These dogs are royal and need to look majestic.” When she found that two of the dogs had killed several prize animals, she chained the two responsible: Bane and his mate, Hera. They were chained outside in bad weather and without shelter. She supposedly had no clue that the rumor was these dogs were being bred to guard meth labs and other attack positions on the outside. This has never been proven, is this shock journalism? No. It was widely reported, again most notably in Rolling Stone magazine, but this allegation has yet to be proven. Janet and her daughter were told all of Paul’s supposed plans for the dogs, and she became fearful for her life. She is now in the Federal Witness Protection Program.