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Print This StoryTreadmill, Steroids Make Dogs Aggressive
Police Bust Fighting Dog Training Operation
Cleveland police say it's an extreme case of cruelty to animals.
Investigators raided a home they say was used to illegally train pit bull fighting dogs, NewsChannel5 reports.
About 45 pit bulls were taken from the house, and the man allegedly behind the operation is now facing felony charges.
The pit bulls are at the Cleveland city kennel after investigators took them from a house on East 78th Street. The house came complete with a treadmill and other extensive training equipment.
Police say that they found evidence of syringes and steroids, which were injected into the dogs to make them more aggressive.
Cleveland safety director Fred Szabo says that it's the biggest fighting dog training operation he's ever seen. He says that the abuse these dogs take while in training is simply appalling.
"Torturing the dogs, using food as training devices for fighting, some of the raids I went, on the pens were blood soaked because some times these fights are to the death," Szabo said.
If convicted, the accused ringleader could get 10 years in jail.
Meanwhile, a veterinarian will be brought in to evaluate some of the dogs to determine if their injuries will heal.
Investigators raided a home they say was used to illegally train pit bull fighting dogs, NewsChannel5 reports.
About 45 pit bulls were taken from the house, and the man allegedly behind the operation is now facing felony charges.
The pit bulls are at the Cleveland city kennel after investigators took them from a house on East 78th Street. The house came complete with a treadmill and other extensive training equipment.
Police say that they found evidence of syringes and steroids, which were injected into the dogs to make them more aggressive.
Cleveland safety director Fred Szabo says that it's the biggest fighting dog training operation he's ever seen. He says that the abuse these dogs take while in training is simply appalling.
"Torturing the dogs, using food as training devices for fighting, some of the raids I went, on the pens were blood soaked because some times these fights are to the death," Szabo said.
If convicted, the accused ringleader could get 10 years in jail.
Meanwhile, a veterinarian will be brought in to evaluate some of the dogs to determine if their injuries will heal.
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