Fresno PD Bust Dog Fighting Ring in Southwest Fresno

08/08/2007 (KFSN) -- Fresno police say they busted a dog fighting ring in southwest Fresno and the bloody fights were videotaped. Most of the video is too graphic and disturbing for Action News to air, but it shows two bloody dogs fighting, as people cheer them on.

Police Chief Dyer says, "These were dogs that were completely taken advantage of. They were used by gang members solely for the purpose of amusing themselves."

Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer says six videotapes were found as authorities investigated a murder from earlier this year and a string of burglaries in an area known as the Dog Pound.

Dyer says, "You can hear some of the comments they make that are very shocking to all of us, talking about looking at the dog leaking transmission fluid referring to its blood, as it was bleeding...Things that would shock the normal person's conscious, but it's apparent these dog pound gang members don't have a conscious."

Police served a total of nine search warrants Wednesday seizing 11 dogs, several firearms and drugs.

Investigators say one of the videotaped fights happened at this home, something the residents deny. An unidentified man says, "They weren't trained to fight, they were just on the leash, they don't ever fight. Some dogs get loose and they bite them, if they did have some marks."

Police say they arrested Robert McCoy and another suspect, Luis Goodman is already behind bars on unrelated charges. Police are now looking for Issac McCoy, Kevin Dejean, and Deandre Stanfill.

Police Chief Jerry Dyer says they are all members of the Dog Pound Gang. Dyer calls the dog fighting suspects 'animals'. But a director at the Fresno SPCA, where the injured dogs now sit, says it's a label that is too kind.

Beth Caffrey, SPCA, says, "They're exploiting attributes of animals and human beings. They're bringing the worst in everyone. I would tend to think monsters would be a better label for this type of person."

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