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Eight men were being questioned and at least seven dogs were rescued after Dolton, Ill., police and Cook County Sheriff’s Police officers broke up a what was described as a major dog fighting operation Wednesday night.
"This was going to be much more extensive," said Sheriff Tom Dart. "There were cars from out of state there. So this was a large operation that was going to go on that night."
Two men were arrested immediately, as police raided a former auto repair garage in the shadow of the Bishop Ford Freeway. But a search of the building revealed more suspects, hiding in the building’s rafters.
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"We found six more people, one of whom has a warrant out for an attempted murder case," Dart said.
The sheriff said it appeared some of the dogs had already fought by the time officers arrived. One had severe bite marks and a wounded eye which medical personnel said may have to be removed.
The fighting ring itself was splattered with blood, as were the walls of the garage. A worn out vending machine in a corner contained narcotics investigators believe were used to sedate the dogs so they could continue fighting.
Dart said it was unclear whether the dirty garage had been the site of previous fights.
"The walls inside the facility are covered in blood," he said. "It’s hard to tell if it’s new or not."
Investigators said when they arrived, the sound of the fighting echoed through the parking lot.
"You could hear the yelling and the barking," Dart said. "You could hear them cheering on their dogs, and you could hear the dogs fighting."
One of those questioned had recently been released from jail after being charged with dog fighting, an officer said. Another had an outstanding warrant on an attempted murder charge.
Dog fighting exists in a shadowy world which is often difficult to detect. The fights are often advertised word-of-mouth or in online advertisements which are closely held. For that reason, Dart said his investigators were lucky to have raided the building when they did.
"They move these fights around a ton," he said. "We’ve had numerous ones where we show up at a location, and it had been moved hours before."
Members of the South Suburban Humane Society took the dogs.
This dog was found after police broke up a suspected dog-fighting ring in Dolton, Ill.
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I wonder what will happen to those poor abused dogs. I would like to think they will be rehabilitated and found good, loving homes but am afraid they will be euthanized.
I'm not a PETA freak, but I say change the laws. 10 years for watching or in anyway participating in a dog fight.
Garanteed these a...holes are on government assistance anyway. If we have to support them, let them have free room and board at the tax payers' expense in prison.
Not good enoungh! Those guys are vermin and need to dropped into the deepest part of the ocean and left there!
what needs to be done with these people is to be put in a small pen and let wild animals or dogs chew them to pieces say how they feel then. I have no time for these people.
We see these people as evil and yet it is so common to abandon animals, breed animals without knowing what we are going to do with them, dump them at shelters, ignore their medical needs by not taking them to a vet and on and on. Their cruelty is obvious and as for the rest of us, not so obvious.
I see this and wonder what kind of a business is the NFL , who took Michael Vick back with a huge paycheck and open arms. There is some justice though, he is failing miserably right now and many of the dogs that he owned and fought have found good homes and are doing well. I think a few of them are in sanctuaries because of rehabilitation issues. I hope these dogs get a chance at life.
Ever since I was a kid of reason and learned what bulfighting is I was saddended. To see people torture an animal for fun, and for the crowds to gather and cheer. I burnt that thought in my mind forever to keep and know that cruelty to animals should not be allowed in any form. I feel sorry for these animals that have to suffer at the hands of inhumane people who do it for the money and their enjoyment. If people want to see blood and fights to the death then they should bring back the old style gladiators to freely choose to want to die. Not force animals in a cage to kill each other. They have no say in it!
It breaks my heart to watch stories like this. I don't know how anyone could hurt a precious little soul like this. I hope anyone who has every participated in this kind of activity burns in hell.
I'd like to turn loose rabid dogs on these and all dogfighters, it'd be a fitting reward and end for the misery and pain they inflict upon these animals...
Annie-322924
"This atheist wants to know why your god doesn't stop this crap."
The same reason he does not stop you from doing bad things ---FREE WILL!!!
Why are we such wimps and let scum like this live?Gas em.Get them off the planet.A swift trial showing proof.No appeals or lawyers lies.Take them out back and blast away.Zero tolerance for all violent crime!Remove them from the gene pool.The have proven they are no good.
Lets not make this about anything but what it is. Sick and demented individuals doing what they do best. Having animals act out their sick and demented ideas. They are to chicken to get in the ring themselves.
Put each one of those arrested at the scene in a room with a hungry grisly.... problem solved..... except for the poor grisly! These guys are vermin and should be eradicated some how - some way!
Make sure to thank a liberal and dem today. These are the people who fight for rehabilitation, hence no tough laws against this stuff. One day people will realize that some just do not deserve a second chance. Animal abusers are right up there with child molestors and rapists. So today..go and pat a dem and liberal on the back because they are looking out for the animal abusers.
Shame the Cops never learn how to properly use their throwaway pieces..
The world is changing. Be careful for it may be you one day in a steel cage being forced to fight for your life.
The saddest part in this whole thing is that everyone of those dogs will be "Humanely euthanized" because they just won't be able to rehabilitate them for adoption so they will say....BS, dogs can be rehabbed from this tragedy, call Cesar Milan!! I hope these SOB's go to jail for a long time. And btw to the person who said they should go to Federal prison like Michael Vick...Vick went to prison for gambling over state lines, he never did 1 day for the dog fighting, not 1 damn day!
Looks like Michael Vick has been busy with his time off.....
As so, here we are... Bunch of evil minded people, cruely fighting dogs to the death. They get caught... They get arrested... They go to prison... The dogs get put down... We and the dogs pay for it for the next ten years...
I propose a new punishment, instead of prison... For convicted felons of violent crimes... and dog fighting would be included... There is no prison... You are given a wooden canoe, some food, some water... And you are tatooed with the words "Violent" across your forehead, plopped out at sea 200 miles off the coast and stripped of citizenship. If you return, you're shot for trespassing... Done...
I say....line up the b**stards, and shoot 'em! Animal cruelty laws need to be severe. There are too many sickos out there taking advantage of innocent creatures -- pretty soon, dogs won't be enough of a thrill, and they will move on to children.
these guys aint gettin shi* from Santa.
This is aweful. I hope they throw the book at these monsters!!!
Ppl kill me how they want to give the worst penalty to ppl that fight dogs but say nothing, do nothing, and turn the other cheek when ppl get murdered everyday. Ya'll act like dogs are sacred creatures. Their just dogs. Not saying its right to fight them and I don't condone what these ppl did but gimme a break. I don't see this much criticism for murders that happen everyday on tv in your community, over seas, or in other countries. Haha. Ass backward ass ppl. And Mick Vick paid his dues. What else do you want? Don't act like you never made a mistake. And lets just hypothetically say you did. Do you not deserve to make a living for yourself or your family anymore? Do you or did you not get a second chance to do right. Get the f*ck outta here, LOL. Silly ppl make me laugh.
dog spelled backwards is "god" !!!
Anyone who participates in dog fighting in any way (training and actually fighting dogs, spectators or people who bet on the fights) should all be punished by the death penalty.
Next to child abusers and molesters, these scumbags who support animal abuse like this are the lowest form of human being known to mankind and the world will be a much better place without them.
Capital punishment for animal abusers FOR WORLD PEACE !!!!
This doesn't say much for society. Sick people! Between this type of activiety and child molesters, we are spiraling into a hole. Why worry about guns, when this kind of crap is happening. Where is Bob Costas?