Ed Faron was born in Ohio and trained dogs after returning from serving in the Vietnam Warin 1970.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.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.In 2009, he pleaded guilty to dog fighting and received a 10 month prison sentence plus probation time.Faron had previously been convicted for dog fighting in 1989.

127 pit bulls were seized in the 2008 raid, to be euthanized.Best Friends Animal Societyoffered to evaluate and spay/neuter any that could be adopted out, citing prejudice against the dogs.

The United States Humane Society estimates that more than 40,000 people across the country buy and sell fighting dogs and are involved in dogfighting activities. But authorities say those in dogfighting circles also are involved in a number of other crimes, including narcotics trafficking, illegal gambling and murder.