In an early morning raid, police found 14 dogs held in makeshift enclosures at an alleged dogfighting ring in Gaston County, North Carolina, according to the Humane Society of the United States.
Some of the dogs had scars that looked like injuries from dogfighting, the group said, and there was equipment associated with dogfights on the property.
The dogs were kept in makeshift crates on a private property in Gaston County, according to the Human Society. (Courtesy Humane Society)
“It’s always haunting … seeing what the dogs have had to endure and thinking about how they’ve suffered,” said Jessica Johnson, with the Humane Society’s animal rescue team.
“We are grateful to the Gaston County Police Department for intervening on behalf of these dogs. No animal deserves to suffer the way these dogs have, but this is the last day they will have to live like this,” she said.
Photos from the scene show dogs locked in crates made of wood and chainlink fence.
“Veterinarians noted dental issues, skin conditions, missing hair and puncture wounds on some of the dogs,” the Human Society said in a news release. The Humane Society police, concerned about the dogs, reached out to them for help on the raid.
“The Gaston County police are grateful for the assistance and partnership with the HSUS in our ongoing commitment to ending this type of animal cruelty,” said Gaston Co. Police Capt. Kyle Yancey, according to the Humane Society.
Police have not responded to a request for comment on the case, or about any arrests. Dogfighting is a Class H felony in North Carolina.