Chicago police seize pit bulls in raid

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

CHICAGO (AP) -- Chicago police raided an operation that allegedly bred and trained dogs to fight, arresting three people and taking eight pit bulls from the South Side home.

The police department's animal crimes unit raided the home in the city's West Pullman neighborhood Thursday after a monthlong investigation, police said.

Animal Care and Control confiscated four adult dogs and four puppies, Police Officer Tom Barker said. Another dog was shot to death after it tried to attack an officer, he said.

Most of the dogs were in the basement, which was covered in feces and urine, and the pit bulls had lacerations on their bodies, Barker said.

Three people were arrested on suspicion of dog fighting after police executed the search warrant on the home. Neighbors had complained to police about loud noises coming from the residence, but Barker said he didn't know where exactly the dogs were fighting.

"It's incredibly hard to find where they've been fighting because they move the sites so often," he said.

Barker said the high-stakes wagers often placed on these fights make them appealing to gang members. The animal crimes unit has stepped up its efforts to stop gang-related dog fighting since November. At least 300 dogs have been confiscated since the beginning of the year, Barker said.