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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- A South Carolina man once described as a the nation's No. 2 breeder of fighting pit bulls is getting out of prison on parole.

The Probation, Parole and Pardon Services board voted 5-2 on Wednesday to grant parole to 63-year-old David Ray Tant.

In July, a three-member panel of the board had voted 2-1 to parole Tant. But the split vote required the full board to consider his release.

Tant was arrested in 2004 after investigators removed dozens of injured dogs from his Charleston County property. Tant pleaded guilty to several dogfighting charges, and his 40-year sentence had been reduced to 30 years.

Tant said during his July hearing he is a changed man and won't hurt dogs again.

Board spokesman Peter O'Boyle it will take several weeks to process Tant for release from a prison in Berkeley County.

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