A dog's life -- of hell
BURBANK | Puppies found in van -- likely being trained for dog fighting -- were starved, eating own feces and drinking own urine; now they need good home
July 27, 2007
BY NORMAN PARISH Staff Reporter/nparish@suntimes.com 
These American Staffordshire Terrier puppies, approximately seven weeks old, were rescued from a gas station in Burbank. (Scott Stewart/Sun-Times) Just Sunday, two little American Staffordshire terriers -- Bella and Spanky -- were headed to a life of dog fighting.
They were starved to make them aggressive. In fact, they were eating their own feces and drinking their urine in plastic dog crates, said an animal welfare official.
They were starved to make them aggressive. In fact, they were eating their own feces and drinking their urine in plastic dog crates, said an animal welfare official.
Now, they are looking for a home after Burbank police arrested two men on charges of felony aggravated animal cruelty and dog fighting. Overall, police found a dozen pit bulls in a van after an anonymous tip.
Now, they are looking for a home after Burbank police arrested two men on charges of felony aggravated animal cruelty and dog fighting. Overall, police found a dozen pit bulls in a van after an anonymous tip.
Mark Estrada of the Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge shows the dog carriers that housed rescued the puppies. (Scott Stewart/Sun-Times)"This is the largest case of dog fighting we have seen here," said Burbank police Capt. Joseph Ford. "But this appears to be the tip of the iceberg in the seamy world of dog fighting."
The problem has spread across the country. Just Thursday, NFL superstar Michael Vick pleaded not guilty to federal dog fighting charges.
Often, pit bulls retrieved from dog fighting rings have difficulty finding a home, and many are euthanized.
But Bella and Spanky are expected to be available for adoption in a couple of weeks. The two dogs are just 7 weeks old and not considered overly aggressive. Adoptions might be available for the other dogs allegedly found with Brian James Bailey, 48, of Marion, Texas, and Tony Self, 35, of Stone Mountain, Ga., who are accused of transporting the dogs.
Four puppies, including Bella and Spanky, were apparently being raised for dog fighting, while the eight adults were breeders, said Linda Estrada, director of the Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge. The dogs will be given temperament tests to determine if they can be adopted, said Estrada, who named the two pups.
Bailey reportedly has had problems with dog fighting in the past. In Texas, 88 pit bulls were seized at the site of a dog fight on Bailey's Marion property, according to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Texas.
To adopt Bella and Spanky or other dogs, call (708) 636-8586.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/486589,CST-NWS-dogs27.article
