Major dog fighting ring busted in Baltimore

(CBS) BALTIMORE - A major dog fighting ring was busted in Baltimore when police raided two locations in the city and found 26 dogs - one of them dead, reports CBS Baltimore.

PICTURES: Crimes against animals (GRAPHIC IMAGES)

The animals, which have since been seized by Animal Control, were forced to fight, according to investigators.

Baltimore City Police Detective Patrick Huter said authorities found "blood splattered on carpets and walls" inside a West Baltimore home along with "an actual ring where the dogs were being fought."

"Dogs were chained to the walls," he said.

Eleven dogs and four puppies were reportedly found chained up inside. Animal Control collected evidence after one man was arrested.

Neighbors tell CBS Baltimore they often saw the dogs with injuries.

"One of them...was missing a leg. That one died," said Tandre Bey. "Other dogs had bits and pieces of their ears, blood dripping. I don't even think he cleaned them up."

Police say they were led to that home after serving a search warrant on Friday at another location. There, detectives reportedly found marijuana, guns and evidence of dog fighting.

"They went into the location and they actually recovered at that location 11 dogs. One of the dogs was deceased in the backyard," said Baltimore City Police Lt. Col. Dan Lioi.

The initial bust reportedly gave police enough evidence to issue a search warrant for the second location.

City officials say they take dog fighting seriously.

"If individuals will abuse animals, the likelihood that they will also treat humans violently is very high," Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot told the station.

That's why police say they are now aggressively investigating all cases.

All of the dogs that were seized have reportedly been taken for treatment.

Five people in total have been arrested. At least three of them will face animal abuse charges, according to the station.