A suspect dog - fighting unit was broken up in Tennessee on Thursday, with 50 dogs rescued and three people arrested, Life With Dogs reported.
Mark Heatherly, 47, his wife Kimberley, 45, and their son Jacob were charged with conspiracy to commit dog fighting after an investigationby Seiverville police and the Humane Society of the United States that spanned four months. They have also been charged with drug possession.
The pit bulls, ranging in age from four weeks to their mid teens, have injuries that suggest a life of fighting. They are being evaluated and cared for by veterinarians.
The family's house looked like any other home, with one dog free to roam around, while the others were outside in worse conditions, according to County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Michael Hodges.
"When you see a piece of property that has 42 adult dogs chained up using a car axle to secure the chain in the ground they're probably not raising pets," he said, WBIR reported.
Chris Schindler of the HSUS said he is thankful for the local police's help in the investigation and for not allowing dog fighting in the community.
"These 50 dogs are the lucky ones who no longer face life at the end of a heavy chain or worse - a bloody pit," Schindler said.
The case was documented by mobile HSUS crime labs sent to the location. The dogs were taken to an animal shelter where they will decide which ones will go up for adoption.
Dog fighting is a felony in every state, the Sevier County Sheriff's Office said. Buying, selling, or trading animals for fighting is a felony in Tennessee. Being a spectator of an animal fight is a misdemeanor offense.
