CROWN POINT | Lake Criminal Court Judge Salvador Vasquez extended Tuesday the trial of Carlton Davis Jr. before it began.

Davis, 34, is accused of conducting dogfights at his Calumet Township home. He faces 15 counts of animal cruelty and seven felony counts of promotion of an animal in a fighting contest, in a jury trial later this month.

Attorneys on both sides of the Gary firefighter's case said they will be bringing witnesses from throughout the country to testify. Vasquez agreed to extend the trial from its original slate of five days to a week and a half.

Davis stalked out of the courtroom after the hearing Tuesday, expressing frustration.

"It's crazy," he said angrily as he walked out.

"I'm sick of this ---," Davis added, cursing.

The dogs were confiscated from Davis' Calumet Township home May 29, 2006 after neighbors complained about the condition of the dogs. Lake County police found equipment on the property that they believed to be used in dog fighting.

The dogs have since been vaccinated for rabies and distemper and undergone temperament testing to assess whether they would be suitable for adoption.

One dog had to be euthanized because it was human aggressive and five pit bulls remain at Lake County Animal Control waiting to be adopted, a spokesperson from Animal Control said. The remaining dogs have been adopted out.