City police bust West Baltimore dog fighting ring

Baltimore, MD - Charlie was a bait dog.

Underfed and living in filthy conditions, even some of his teeth were broken off so that he couldn't really bite.

The fresh scabs and old scars on his face show that he was used as a training tool...so other dogs could bite and maim him.

"All of this is all indicative of fighting on the front of the legs and the head and the ears." BARCS Director Jennifer Mead says. "A lot of times they'll use these small puppies and dogs that don't know how to fight to train the dogs that do know how to fight and give them confidence on how to fight, the most dominant dog that's being trained can injure and kill the other dog.".

This dog is just one of six live dogs that were taken out of this house on North Payson Street overnight.
A seventh dog was found dead in a bloody garbage bag.

Police received an anonymous call last night that dog fighting was going on inside the house.

When officers arrived they found a house full of dogs but no people inside.
Police say the 70 year old woman who owned the house lived right next door but she says she didn't know there was dog fighting.

The same goes for folks who live in the area....they say they had no idea something like this was going on.

They say they thought the house, which is right across from an elementary school was vacant.

I've been here almost a year and a half and to live in this neighborhood and have not a clue that this is going on in my neighborhood that really appalls me it's a little chilling it's really quiet." Deborah Rayner, who lives a few houses away, told ABC 2 News.

Right now all of the dogs are in the care of Baltimore Animal Rescue where they've received medial care.

They're all grossly underfed and some like Charlie bear some scaring from fighting.

For now they're evidence, but eventually they hope to help them become pets.

"Their future was not good but now we're going to get them fattened up and healed and hopefully place them into homes." Mead says.

No one has been charged in this, although police say they do have a person of interest.