May 29, 2006 11:00 pm US/Central
Police Discover Apparent Dog Fighting Ring
Neighbors Alerted Authorities To Mistreatment
by Pamela Jones
(CBS)
Lake County Sheriff's Police in Northwest Indiana have broken up a dog fighting ring that apparently trained and tortured the animals it used to make money.
CBS 2 Northwest Indiana Bureau Chief Pamela Jones reports officers discovered a grim scene when they moved in.
Dogs were found chained to the ground with plastic barrels for shelter. The carcasses of other dogs were wrapped in plastic, buzzing with flies.
"I heard the dogs hollering and screaming for food and water," said neighbor Charles Majeski.
Neighbors alerted Lake County police to what detectives call a case of animal neglect and animal fighting. The resident was nowhere to be found.
"He just moved in 6 months ago and told me he was breeding. And I took him for his word," Majeski said.
Crews confiscated some 16 dogs that survived at the Calumet Township property just west of Gary.
"Some of them had injuries consistent with fighting. I would say the dogs' conditions were pretty poor," Sheriff Dept. Det. Michelle Weaver said.
They also took a harness weighted with chain links, a treadmill and other items detectives say are commonly used to train dogs to fight.
"Occasionally our department will hear of dog fighting in other jurisdictions, not in ours. We were surprised to find this here," Weaver said.
In the shed to the rear of the property was what detectives say could have been a fighting ring and a carpet soaked with animal blood.
It was an alleged training center in an area so secluded, CBS 2 is told it could have remained someone's secret had it not been for the goodwill of neighbors.
The smell of animal remains and feces still hangs over the property. CBS 2 has been told the animals may not have been fed for days. Some are critically dehydrated.
Neighbors were able to feed and give water to the animals until police arrived.
The dogs are now in the custody of the Lake County Animal Shelter. Investigators hope to have a warrant issued for the resident of the home Tuesday.
(CBS 2 and the Post-Tribune are news partners covering stories in the communities of northwest Indiana. If you know of stories happening in this region, contact us.
