harrisonsdream
02-02-2007, 09:01 PM
Houston SPCA seizes 26 pit bulls; some wounded
By ANNE MARIE KILDAY
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
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Twenty-six pit bulls, some with fresh scars or wounds from dogfighting, were seized by the Houston SPCA on Thursday evening from a property in northwest Harris County.
Accompanied by deputies from Harris County Precinct 1, the SPCA seized the pit bulls from a site in the 6400 block of Chippewa. The animals were in poor physical condition, said Heidi Brasher a spokeswoman for the Houston SPCA.
"Some of them are inadequate body weight, some show scars from old bites, some have fresh injuries from recent fights," Brasher said. "None of the animals had access to fresh water, some had chains that were too short.
"Over all, it was pretty rough conditions for these animals," she said.
Brasher said the organization obtained a warrant to seize the animals after a two-week investigation.
The property also had "paraphernalia" that appeared to be related to dog-fighting, she said.
That equipment included treadmills for exercising dogs, "portable dogfighting rings, and big carpet squares with large patches of dried blood that were apparently used as the floor for those rings," Brasher said.
There were no arrests associated with the seizure of the animals Thursday.
Brasher said the dogs will remain in the care of the SPCA for 10 days, until the agency goes to court. She said a judge will determine the fate of the animals.
"This is rough for us," Brasher said. "Some people see dogfighting as a sport, and we see it as a crime and Texas law makes it a crime. So, we spend a lot of time trying to educate the public that this is animal cruelty and it is against the law."
By ANNE MARIE KILDAY
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
TOOLS
Email Get section feed
Print Subscribe NOW
Twenty-six pit bulls, some with fresh scars or wounds from dogfighting, were seized by the Houston SPCA on Thursday evening from a property in northwest Harris County.
Accompanied by deputies from Harris County Precinct 1, the SPCA seized the pit bulls from a site in the 6400 block of Chippewa. The animals were in poor physical condition, said Heidi Brasher a spokeswoman for the Houston SPCA.
"Some of them are inadequate body weight, some show scars from old bites, some have fresh injuries from recent fights," Brasher said. "None of the animals had access to fresh water, some had chains that were too short.
"Over all, it was pretty rough conditions for these animals," she said.
Brasher said the organization obtained a warrant to seize the animals after a two-week investigation.
The property also had "paraphernalia" that appeared to be related to dog-fighting, she said.
That equipment included treadmills for exercising dogs, "portable dogfighting rings, and big carpet squares with large patches of dried blood that were apparently used as the floor for those rings," Brasher said.
There were no arrests associated with the seizure of the animals Thursday.
Brasher said the dogs will remain in the care of the SPCA for 10 days, until the agency goes to court. She said a judge will determine the fate of the animals.
"This is rough for us," Brasher said. "Some people see dogfighting as a sport, and we see it as a crime and Texas law makes it a crime. So, we spend a lot of time trying to educate the public that this is animal cruelty and it is against the law."