15 Pitbulls Seized from a North Bellport Home

The pit bulls seized at a North Bellport home where a stray bullet struck an 11-year-old boy in the face appeared to be canines intended for illegal dog fighting, Suffolk police said Tuesday.

Injuries to the dogs, impounded Monday and now at the Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter, indicated extreme neglect, including "big, open wounds on the neck," "torn ears from bites" and "very serious ear trauma" that had been left long untreated, according to the shelter's director, Charlie McGinley.

"These are injuries that were allowed to fester," McGinley said.

The number of dogs, as well as physical evidence found in the home, indicated that the dogs were used or meant for illegal fighting, said Suffolk Det. Lt. Edward Reilly.

In all, the authorities discovered at least one dead dog and more than 15 living animals with bodily injuries, including a mother dog nursing her pups that are less than a week old, McGinley said.

McGinley said the impounded dogs are being cared for by veterinarians and will remain there as the investigation continues

"They'll all survive -- thank God," McGinley said, referring to the animals. "But some of them are going to need surgery."

At the shelter Tuesday afternoon, the injured animals were caged with numerous injuries, including bruises, abrasions and cuts. Some barked at visitors. Others cowered in the back of their cages.

Meanwhile, in the woods a house away from the Provost Avenue home where the boy was shot, a decomposing carcass of what appeared to be a pit bull lay in some brush. Nearby, plastic dog houses were arranged in a circle.

Roy Gross, chief of department of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Suffolk County, declined to comment on the discoveries at the Provost Avenue home or anything about the case, referring all inquiries to the Suffolk police.

He said, however, that there are organized, illegal dog fighting operations on Long Island, calling the problem "unfortunately, all too common in Suffolk County" -- and nationwide."They have gone very deep underground. "-=It's much harder to infiltrate these dog fighting places," Gross said.

The authorities are investigating how the dogs were injured, who caused the injuries and why the dogs were not treated by a veterinarian, McGinley said.

He said that whoever owns the dogs would not be allowed to claim the animals from the Brookhaven shelter unless those questions and more are satisfactorily answered.


So Sad I'm gonna donate now to the shelter because it sounds like they are gonna need some help!! Poor Pups!!!

Re: 15 Pitbulls Seized from a North Bellport Home

i swear these stories just p*ss me off!! i really are disgusted by those people who breed pitbulls or any other dog for fighting purposes......its utterly deplorable.

i would love to throw those fighting breeders into a hungry lion's den

Re: 15 Pitbulls Seized from a North Bellport Home

for the doggies

Re: 15 Pitbulls Seized from a North Bellport Home

I saw the dogs last night on the news I was SICK. Some of them had open wounds on the face and legs one's ear was hanging on by a thread, another one had a big hole through the ear one had a big scar where it looked like his ear was half way torn off and healed back

Re: 15 Pitbulls Seized from a North Bellport Home

Re: 15 Pitbulls Seized from a North Bellport Home

Posted by Jennie0898

Posted by MrsPJB2007

i swear these stories just p*ss me off!! i really are disgusted by those people who breed pitbulls or any other dog for fighting purposes......its utterly deplorable.

i would love to throw those fighting breeders into a hungry lion's den

I feel the EXACT same way.

It's sad, when I first saw the story break about the kid and saw that in order to get into the house first the authorities had to get the pits out I had a feeling they were fighting dogs.

Unfortunately, the area is known for it.

It makes me so sad... WE'RE supposed to be the EVOLVED spieces. You'd never know it by the actions of "people" like this.

Re: 15 Pitbulls Seized from a North Bellport Home

It's horrible, those poor dogs!! I'm glad they'll live, but sad that they didn't all make it out of there and the ones that did are traumatized.

I hope they find the SOBs who did this and may justice be served!!

Re: 15 Pitbulls Seized from a North Bellport Home

That makes me sick. Those poor animals.

Re: 15 Pitbulls Seized from a North Bellport Home

I was told by the town of Brookhaven, if you make a monetary donation to the shelter, it doesn't go to the shelter- the donation goes to the town.
So don't bother- donate to Saveapet or another shelter instead- they are running a fund drive on their website at www.saveapetli..org for a pup that needs surgery- at least you know the money goes for the animals-

Re: 15 Pitbulls Seized from a North Bellport Home

Re: 15 Pitbulls Seized from a North Bellport Home

Re: 15 Pitbulls Seized from a North Bellport Home

Ugh I hate these people. Seriously, it is th enew millenia,..you can't find something to entertain yourself so you have to have dog fights! UGH!

I hope the sentences for offenders get more severe.