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Police Break Up Alleged Dog Fighting Ring In Bronx

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Jun 16, 2008 6:28 am US/Eastern

Police Break Up Alleged Dog Fighting Ring In Bronx

7 Suspects Face Animal Fighting, Gambling Charges

BRONX (CBS) ― Police said they've broken up a dog fighting ring that was operating right in the middle of a residential neighborhood in the Bronx. Seven men were arrested.

Officials said a group of men ran the operation out of an apartment building on East 179th Street between Morris and Creston Avenues in the Tremont section.

Authorities raided the basement of the Bronx apartment building and gingerly escorted 16 pit bulls to waiting animal control vans. All of the animals showed signs of abuse. One dog was seriously injured and died on the way to a shelter.

City Animal Care & Control center director Mike Pastore tells the Daily News that the animal was in poor condition "with bite marks and blood all over it."

It wasn't surprising to Tremont residents, who told CBS 2 HD they've had run-ins with the dogs and their owners, and were annoyed by the sound of barking at all hours of the night.

"Every time I'd go to bed at night, you'd hear dog sounds. They don't let you sleep. It's annoying," said Pedro Reyes.

"They sounded like they were hungry because they were barking. I said, maybe someone should give them some food to eat," added Johnny Smallwood.

Police arrested seven men between the ages of 29 and 41. They face charges of animal fighting, participating in animal fight, promoting gambling and own or possess an animal for fighting.

Three are residents of the Bronx, the others come from Newark, Paterson and North Brunswick, New Jersey.

There is no word on whether the dog-fighting ring extended into New Jersey. Neighbors in the Bronx were just glad to finally get the dog-fighting ring out of the neighborhood.

"We've got children, look we don't need fighting dogs," said David Phillips. "We need animals to protect. If somebody has a pet - not that kind of dog.

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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