Starving Dogs Found In Broward Backyard
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) -- Four malnourished female pit bulls that may have been used for dog fighting are now in the hands of Broward County Animal Care and Control.
The dogs were seized from the backyard of a home near Ft. Lauderdale on Friday.
It happened while BSO detectives were in the middle of a drug investigation.
While searching the side of the apartment the four pit bulls were discovered living in deplorable conditions. Three of the dogs were tied to a fence and lying in their own feces. The fourth dog was in a tiny cage with no room to move around.
The dogs appeared to be malnourished with their bones protruding through their skin. One was missing an eye and had multiple scars from what appeared to be bite marks. Broward County Animal Control removed the dogs, at which time two tried to attack each other without provocation. Investigators say this is an indication that the animals were accustomed to fighting.
"It's bad, you can see the ribs in all of them, they're in bad shape," says Paul Lee who lives next door.
Lee says he tried to talk to the owner many times about the inhumane conditions, but his concerns fell on deaf ears.
"I told him you need to do something. He said he had to get medicine, but they're in bad shape. I talked to his mama who lives next door and told her you need to talk to him. There's too much traffic, but I guess he said to heck with that."
CBS4 approached the owner's mother. She said she thought "investigators didn't know anything."
But BSO says when they track down her son, he not only faces drug charges but charges of animal abuse.
The dogs will remain with animal control for the time being.
A veterinarian still has to examine the animals and will report his findings to BSO.
It is not known if the animals will be able to be adopted out.
BSO requests that the public report animals they fear are being abused by calling call 911 or 954-765-4321.
