Source: Time Herald Record, October 26, 2009
The four dead pit bulls found in a dumpster on Route 17K earlier this month died of injuries consistent with dogfighting, town police said Monday.
Crawford police Lt. Dominick Blasko said necropsies showed that the dogs died of hemorraghing from wounds that could only be caused by fighting other dogs.
“There was tearing of flesh, bite marks and puncture wounds,” Blasko said. “There were some older wounds and more recent wounds.”
The pit bulls — two male and two female — were discovered in a dumpster owned by Jet Waste on Oct. 7. Blasko, who said the dogs had died a few days earlier, said there’s no evidence connecting them to the property owner. He also said police haven’t uncovered any evidence of dogfighting taking place in the town.
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have offered a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone in connection to the case.
Anyone with information should contact Crawford police at 744-3300.
Source: Philly.com, October 22, 2009
An unlicensed pet store in North Philadelphia was raided by authorities tonight and 28 dogs housed in excrement-covered cages in a back room were seized.
The dogs, mainly pit bull mixes, were being sold for as much as $1,000, said George Bengal, director of law enforcement for the Pennsylvania SPCA.
Brickyard Pet Supply at 2208 Cecil B. Moore Avenue was shut down and a man and woman described as the owners were arrested by police.
Investigators were trying to determine who was supplying the dogs and whether the store was connected to dogfighting.
A PSPCA officer made a $400 undercover purchase earlier today of a pit bull mix from the store. The dog’s ears had infections from being cropped, apparently by someone not authorized to perform such a procedure, Bengal said
The dogs – some bred at the store – were “very sick” from being kept in unsanitary conditions, Bengal said. “They were just covered in feces and urine. It was a mess,” he said.
Also participating in the raid were four state dog wardens, who oversee kennel licensing, and Philadelphia police. Bengal said the team planned to execute two more warrants tonight related to the pet store.
The man and woman declined to comment. They were arrested because the dog that was purchased was illegally disfigured, Bengal said. Their names were not immediately released.
The woman expressed shock at being arrested and repeatedly howled “Oh my God!” as she sat handcuffed in the back of a police cruiser.
