Former Detroit Lions DT expected to face 2 charges of animal cruelty

Former Lions DT Isaiah Buggs is facing second-degree animal cruelty allegations.

Former Detroit Lions —and current Kansas City Chiefs —defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs has been accused of animal cruelty, and according to documents obtained by Patch.com, is expected to face two misdemeanor charges .

Per the civil petition, two dogs were found abandoned on Buggs’ property: a rottweiler mix locked in a metal cage without food or water available, and a pitbull on the screened-in back porch. According to witnesses on hand, the dogs were left there for “at least 10 days.” When the dogs were eventually seized following police arrival, they were malnourished and emaciated. Eventually, the pitbull had to be euthanized.

As for Buggs’ involvement, witnesses say he moved out of the Alabama residence around March 19. The police arrived on March 28 to find the dogs in their abandoned state, surrounded by their own feces. Per the police, Buggs’ lease was terminated on April 15 due to owing back rent.

After failing to be able to reach Buggs back in March, the petition states that police have obtained two warrants for second-degree cruelty to dogs or cats.

Buggs was signed by the Lions in 2022 and spent the next two seasons as a significant contributor to Detroit’s defense. But after losing his starting job in 2023, he was eventually waived, and the Chiefs signed him to their practice squad. Although he did not make any game appearances for Kansas City, he won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs last year and signed a futures deal with the Chiefs back in January.

Neither Buggs nor the Chiefs have made a statement regarding this story.

UPDATE: Buggs’ agent Trey Robinson has released a statement claiming the dogs were not Buggs’ and he had no knowledge of them being on his property. He also alleges harassment from the Tuscaloosa police department