State seeks custody of pit bulls from dog fighting ring

ORANGE — The state’s attorney general is seeking to get state custody of seven pit bulls seized in a raid at a property in Orange as part of an ongoing investigation into a multi-state illegal dog fighting ring.

Attorney General William Tong announced Thursday that he applied for state custody of the dogs in a court filing on Wednesday.

“Dog fighting is cruel and illegal. No animal should ever be treated this way,” Tong said in a prepared statement.

Connecticut State Police on Oct. 5 raided a property at 968 Grassy Hill Road and seized seven pit bulls found in what authorities described as “unsanitary cages” in the backyard.

Law enforcement also found numerous record books, including a list of about 80 dogs potentially involved in dog fighting. Tong said police discovered dog fighting guides and magazines, breeder information, scales, collars, and veterinary-grade equipment and medicine believed to be tied to the dog fighting ring.

Tong secured an order granting the Department of Agriculture temporary care and custody. The dogs are currently being housed at the Milford Animal Shelter. He said the investigation is ongoing and that his office continues to work with police and the Department of Agriculture to ensure the safety of each dog recovered.

The petition filed in court on Wednesday seeks to give the state permanent custody of the dogs, who were suffering from ear and eye infections, and malnutrition. Tong said the dogs also had scars, likely caused by bite wounds.

The dogs have been named Vera, Angie, Zebra, Sypher, Mugshot, Horris and Lucy.

This summer, on July 31, state police raided a property at 109 Britannia St. in Meriden and seized eight pit bulls found in cages in the backyard. Tony said evidence seized in that raid, including a text message chain with videos of dog and cock fighting operations, led police to the location in Orange.

Tong previously moved for state custody of the Meriden dogs. That custody case is pending. Those dogs are also at Milford Animal Shelter.