Animal control rescues 10 pit bull terriers*

*3:21 p.m.: A suspected dogfighting operation has been broken up in rural Ramona, San Diego County animal services officials said today.

Ten pit bull terriers believed used in fighting were seized in a raid after officials received a tip, officials said. Some dogs were chained, others were entangled around stakes, and many had scars on their faces and legs.

The property owner was not home when search warrants were served.

The dogs were taken to a shelter in Carlsbad and information turned over to the district attorney’s office for possible criminal charges.

Among the evidence seized were treadmills, medications, syringes, trophies and dogfighting schedules, said Lt. Dan DeSousa, supervising animal control officer for the county’s animal services department. The dogfighting schedules appeared to be in code, DeSousa added.

DeSousa said the owner appears to have been a “hobbyist” dogfighter, not a professional. While San Diego County has not been considered a center of dogfighting, officials are not discounting the possibility. “Dogfighting goes on here,” De Sousa said. “We’d be foolish to think it doesn’t.”

--Tony Perry

Photo: San Diego County Department of Animal Services