DAYTON -- Several dogs were rescued from a North Dayton neighborhood Tuesday night, after police say they were covered in scars and open wounds from dogfighting.
The Animal Resource Center took five pit bulls from the neighborhood, but two had to be put down because they were in such bad shape.
"She hears dogs fighting all the time at night," said Victoria McNeil, who lives nearby. "I kind of know when they're going at it, you'll hear a lot of not barking, but growling."
It's a noise McNeil is used to hearing in her neighborhood.
"I know people make money off of it, it's a big deal they have those underground dog fights and stuff," she said.
While dogfighting is a problem in that particular neighborhood, put it together with vacant houses, and neighbors say it's the perfect storm.
"I don't know for the life of me why people would take a dog and do that for money, but it's all about money sometimes," said McNeil.
Police found two pit bulls covered in bloody cuts, barricaded inside a vacant home on Brightwood Avenue.
"There's some that just pick them up, fight them, and then dispose of them," said McNeil.
After investigating they ended up at a home on Helena Street.
Inside, they found two pit bulls and another living in the vacant duplex next door.
All three dogs had scars on their faces and legs from what police say was dogfighting.
The man who lives in the duplex was cited for failing to license the dogs and they were taken, but he denies anything illegal was going on.
"They weren't used in dogfighting, they got in a fight with each other," said the man.
Animal resource officers are looking into that case.
They say the mangled faces of the survivors should serve as a warning to anyone involved in dogfighting.
"Dayton is not where you want to be if you want to fight dogs," said Mark Kumpf, director of the Animal Resource Center. "We have been actively fighting these cases."
While no one has been charged at this time, the investigation is ongoing.
There is a $5,000 reward for anyone who reports dogfighting in their neighborhood. Just call the Humane Society at 1-877-TIP-HSUS.
The Animal Resource Center took five pit bulls from the neighborhood, but two had to be put down because they were in such bad shape.
"She hears dogs fighting all the time at night," said Victoria McNeil, who lives nearby. "I kind of know when they're going at it, you'll hear a lot of not barking, but growling."
It's a noise McNeil is used to hearing in her neighborhood.
"I know people make money off of it, it's a big deal they have those underground dog fights and stuff," she said.
While dogfighting is a problem in that particular neighborhood, put it together with vacant houses, and neighbors say it's the perfect storm.
"I don't know for the life of me why people would take a dog and do that for money, but it's all about money sometimes," said McNeil.
Police found two pit bulls covered in bloody cuts, barricaded inside a vacant home on Brightwood Avenue.
"There's some that just pick them up, fight them, and then dispose of them," said McNeil.
After investigating they ended up at a home on Helena Street.
Inside, they found two pit bulls and another living in the vacant duplex next door.
All three dogs had scars on their faces and legs from what police say was dogfighting.
The man who lives in the duplex was cited for failing to license the dogs and they were taken, but he denies anything illegal was going on.
"They weren't used in dogfighting, they got in a fight with each other," said the man.
Animal resource officers are looking into that case.
They say the mangled faces of the survivors should serve as a warning to anyone involved in dogfighting.
"Dayton is not where you want to be if you want to fight dogs," said Mark Kumpf, director of the Animal Resource Center. "We have been actively fighting these cases."
While no one has been charged at this time, the investigation is ongoing.
There is a $5,000 reward for anyone who reports dogfighting in their neighborhood. Just call the Humane Society at 1-877-TIP-HSUS.