Ed Faron

{{short description|American dog breeder}}

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| birth_name = Edward Anthony Faron{{cite web|url=http://www2.journalnow.com:80/content/2008/dec/12/kennel-where-pit-bulls-seized-called-a-major-breed/news-regional-wilkes/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221202430/http://www2.journalnow.com:80/content/2008/dec/12/kennel-where-pit-bulls-seized-called-a-major-breed/news-regional-wilkes/|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 February 2009|title=Kennel where pit bulls seized called a major breeding center|date=21 February 2009|access-date=20 May 2019}}

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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1947|11|09}}

| birth_place = Ohio, United States

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| criminal_charge = Dog fighting

| criminal_penalty = 6 months

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| occupation = Dog breeder

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Edward Anthony Faron (born November 9, 1947) is an American author and a breeder of pit bulls for dog fighting.{{cite web |url=http://www.lb7.uscourts.gov/documents/09-3010125.pdf |title=Dogfighting Fact Sheet : The Humane Society of the United States |date= |access-date=2018-09-10 |archive-date=2017-02-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201073320/http://www.lb7.uscourts.gov/documents/09-3010125.pdf |url-status=dead }} He is generally regarded in the United States as the Godfather of dog fighting.{{cite web |url=https://www.journalnow.com/news/local/dog-fighting-godfather-given-prison/article_d6ff4bed-7ccc-50bc-b401-b50bd76d407e.html |title=Dog-fighting 'godfather' given prison |first=Monte |last=Mitchell |website=Winston-Salem Journal|date=13 February 2009 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.sas.upenn.edu/~cavitch/pdf-library/Weaver_Becoming.pdf |title= Becoming in Kind, Race, Class, Gender, and Nation in Cultures of Dog Rescue and Dogfighting|website=Sas.upenn.edu }}{{cite web|url=https://libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncg/f/Solomon_uncg_0154M_10035.pdf |title=No Curs Allowed: Exploring the Subculture of Dogmen|website=Libres.uncg.edu }}

Ed Faron was born in Ohio and trained dogs after returning from serving in the Vietnam War in 1970.{{cite web|url=http://www.journalpatriot.com:80/fullstory.asp?id=944|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329023813/http://www.journalpatriot.com:80/fullstory.asp?id=944|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 March 2010|title=Wilkes Journal Patriot - Welcome|date=29 March 2010|access-date=20 May 2019}} He started breeding pit bull dogs in 1987. In 1995 he co-authored the book The Complete Gamedog: A Guide to Breeding and Raising the American Pit Bull Terrier.{{ASIN|B0006F7C3W|title=The Complete Gamedog: A Guide to Breeding and Raising the American Pit Bull Terrier}} In 1996 Ed Faron moved to Millers Creek, North Carolina to create Wildside Kennels.

In 2008 Ed Faron was indicted for a running a dog fighting operation called Wildside Kennels, which was based in Wilkes County, North Carolina.{{cite web|url=https://www.aspca.org/about-us/press-releases/aspcas-mobile-animal-csi-unit-celebrates-1st-anniversary-action|title=ASPCA's Mobile Animal CSI Unit Celebrates 1st Anniversary in Action|publisher=ASPCA|access-date=10 September 2018}} In 2009, he pleaded guilty to dog fighting and received a 10-month prison sentence plus probation time.{{cite news|url=https://www.journalnow.com/news/local/wilkes-man-pleads-guilty-to-dog-fighting/article_bbf9813e-8973-575b-96fa-da9079bb42c0.html|title=Wilkes man pleads guilty to dog fighting|first=Monte|last=Mitchell|newspaper=Winston-Salem Journal|access-date=20 May 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gazettetimes.com/news/local/man-sentenced-in-dogfighting-case/article_5ba119fc-6a79-11df-9cde-001cc4c002e0.html|title=Man sentenced in dogfighting case|author=Rachel Beck|website=Gazettetimes.com|date=28 May 2010 |access-date=10 September 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2009/02/nc_law_enforcement_brings_dogfighter_to_justice_021309.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180910131610/http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2009/02/nc_law_enforcement_brings_dogfighter_to_justice_021309.html |archive-date= September 10, 2018 |title=NC Law Enforcement Agencies Praised for Bringing 'Dogfighting Godfather' to Justice : The Humane Society of the United States |website=The Humane Society of the United States}} Faron had previously been convicted for dog fighting in 1989.

127 pit bulls were seized in the 2008 raid, to be euthanized.{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Fighting-dogs-get-death-sentence/20651234901115/|title=Fighting dogs get death sentence|publisher=UPI|access-date=10 September 2018}}