Cook County Sheriff Breaks Up Dog Fighting Ring On South Side
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Sheriff Tom Dart says they received a tip that there was dog fighting going on in the basement of a two flat at 63rd and Throop.
"Unfortunately, we found exactly what we thought we were going to find which was a basement where dog fighting had been going on and found 14 dogs in cages and many of them chained to the wall and we actually found a dead dog in the backyard as well," Dart said.
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The homeowner, Larue Jackson, 57, was arrested and charged with felony dog fighting and owner's duties. Dart says the dog fighting had been going on for quite a while and Jackson had faced similar charges before. His bond was set at $100,000.
"It was a very ugly setting," Dart said. "It was clear there was dog fighting going on there for a while. We found the sticks that they pry the dogs away, narcotics, we actually found a ledger that was a list of people who were involved in fighting and dogs that were involved with fighting. We also found some training devices in the backyard as well."
Dart says shutting down operations like this is difficult without the help from the public.
"We were only able to come across this one because we got information," he said. "It's hard otherwise. I mean this was going in in the basement of a two flat apartment. It's difficult to get information but once we do, we can move pretty quick."
The dogs, mostly pitbulls were taken to animal control. No word on whether they are fit for adoption.
