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35 pit bulls found starving in Mullica
By MADELAINE VITALE Staff Writer, (609) 272-7218, E-Mail
The Atlantic County SPCA got a call Monday night from Mullica Township police who said a number of pit bulls thought to be used for illegal fighting were tied up, hungry, thirsty and cut up outside a home on First Road.
By Tuesday, Leah Whitesell, the SPCA animal-cruelty investigator, went out to 3000 First Rd. and found 35 pit bulls tied up.
The residence, according to tax records, belongs to Eric Bell, but he was not at home.
Whitesell said some of the dogs are owned by Bell, but it wasn't clear whether there are any other owners.
Some of the dogs were skinny. Some were dehydrated. Some had cuts on their ears and other scaring, which Whitesell said was evidence that they were used for fighting.
They had water in huge barrels, most likely rainwater, Whitesell said.
A shed and benches set up in the back yard led Whitesell to think that gamblers gathered there to bet on the dogs in the fights. Despite what the animals were allegedly used for, Whitesell said they were all very friendly with her.
After patrolling the yard, checking out the dogs' conditions and talking with a member of the Prosecutor's Office, Whitesell said she would await approval for a warrant to seize the animals.
At 5 p.m., with warrant in hand, she returned to take about half of the dogs Tuesday.
The remaining dogs will be picked up today.
Before leaving the property, Whitesell said she peered through some of the windows in the house she described as vacant but in good shape as if someone left recently in a hurry.
"There are bags of IV fluid to hydrate dogs, and I saw some antibiotics on the counter," Whitesell said. "I can hear some puppies in the garage."
By MADELAINE VITALE Staff Writer, (609) 272-7218, E-Mail
The Atlantic County SPCA got a call Monday night from Mullica Township police who said a number of pit bulls thought to be used for illegal fighting were tied up, hungry, thirsty and cut up outside a home on First Road.
By Tuesday, Leah Whitesell, the SPCA animal-cruelty investigator, went out to 3000 First Rd. and found 35 pit bulls tied up.
The residence, according to tax records, belongs to Eric Bell, but he was not at home.
Whitesell said some of the dogs are owned by Bell, but it wasn't clear whether there are any other owners.
Some of the dogs were skinny. Some were dehydrated. Some had cuts on their ears and other scaring, which Whitesell said was evidence that they were used for fighting.
They had water in huge barrels, most likely rainwater, Whitesell said.
A shed and benches set up in the back yard led Whitesell to think that gamblers gathered there to bet on the dogs in the fights. Despite what the animals were allegedly used for, Whitesell said they were all very friendly with her.
After patrolling the yard, checking out the dogs' conditions and talking with a member of the Prosecutor's Office, Whitesell said she would await approval for a warrant to seize the animals.
At 5 p.m., with warrant in hand, she returned to take about half of the dogs Tuesday.
The remaining dogs will be picked up today.
Before leaving the property, Whitesell said she peered through some of the windows in the house she described as vacant but in good shape as if someone left recently in a hurry.
"There are bags of IV fluid to hydrate dogs, and I saw some antibiotics on the counter," Whitesell said. "I can hear some puppies in the garage."