Animal rescuers swarmed Laurel Avenue

Updated: Thursday, 08 Oct 2009, 7:11 AM EDT
Published : Thursday, 08 Oct 2009, 7:08 AM EDT

    * Jericka Duncan
    * Posted by: Emily Lenihan

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - More than dozen dogs are being cared for at the Buffalo Animal Shelter Thursday morning following a raid on the city's east side.

The site of several dogs going in an out of houses on Laurel Avenue, and the sound of cheers tipped police off to a suspected dog fighting ring.

"Buffalo PD on the street are running into them into the yards with the suspects, and we're getting them with the fighting end of it," said Bill Vivian of the Buffalo Animal Shelter.

Animal rescuers swarmed Laurel Street in the Masten District and grabbed 10 adult pit bulls and eight puppies from four different homes, including a house that operates as a day care.

Officials say many of the dogs have scars from fighting and abuse, some are even disfigured because of the harsh treatment they've received.

"It's just something we see all the time around here, we know what we're looking for and a lot of the same names kept popping up at the same addresses," said Vivian.

 Copyright WIVB.com