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BY CARRIE RODOVICH
crodovich@nwitimes.com
219.762.1397 | Tuesday, May 30, 2006 | (No comments posted.)
CALUMET TOWNSHIP | Charles Majeski knew the man who lived across the street from him in the 3700 block of West 48th Place was breeding pit bulls, but when the dogs were barking loudly Monday and he hadn't seen anyone on the property for more than a week, he decided to go across the street and investigate.
He found more than a dozen starving pit bulls, police said.
"I gave them food and water, and then called police," he said. "I didn't want the dogs to die."
When Lake County Sheriff's Department detectives arrived, they found 16 dogs, as well as equipment for breeding, training and fighting, Detective Michelle Weaver said. They also found the carcasses of six dogs in garbage bags in the back of a pickup truck.
"The dogs were in bad condition," Weaver said. "They had injuries consistent with dog fighting."
She said interviews with neighbors indicated that men would come to the property, which was marked with "Beware of Dogs" signs, with pit bulls at regular intervals.
"Some would leave awhile later without their dogs," she said.
She said garbage bags consistent with the ones found in the back of the pickup truck would be put out the following day.
No one was home when detectives arrived, and Weaver declined to identify the homeowner until he could be interviewed. Lake County Animal Control took custody of the animals.
Two structures on the property apparently were used for breeding and fighting, Weaver said. One building had a wooden treadmill for the dogs to run on, as well as devices the dogs could be strapped into to breed or to antagonize them. Heavy harnesses also were found.
The second structure appeared to be where the dogs fought, with wooden cages in one corner and blood-stained carpet and wood planks that marked the fighting ring.
When detectives arrived, Weaver said the building was filled with empty liquor bottles and plastic lawn chairs for spectators.
The dogs lived outside on the back portion of the property, chained near empty plastic barrels that served as doghouses.
She said paperwork found inside the home indicated a detailed training schedule leading up to "game day."
Weaver said although the department regularly patrols the area, officers never would have known pit bull fighting was taking place on the densely wooded property unless neighbors alerted them to it.
"We're trying to find out whatever we can about who was involved," she said.
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