AR-News: Five men plead guilty in pit-bull fight ring

[jim robertson]

Five men plead guilty in pit-bull fight ring


Associated Press


PITTSBURGH _ Five men pleaded guilty to charges in what investigators called 
the largest investigation of a dogfighting ring in Pennsylvania history.

The five men, including a pet-store owner, were arrested in November 2002 
for arranging fights between pit bulls in basements and warehouses over at 
least a five-year period. The fights had purses of up to $50,000.

According to arrest warrants, members of the ring trained dogs to fight and 
organized and promoted fights in western an
d central Pennsylvania since May 1997.

Police seized 21 pit bulls, guns, steroids, training equipment, underground 
dogfighting magazines and a photo album full of fighting dogs with names 
such as "Crazy," "Screwface," "Gizmo" and "Rampage."

The men pleaded guilty Monday to charges ranging from animal cruelty to 
attempting to buy illegal drugs.




Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to 
embrace all living creatures.            Albert Einstein

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