Dolton Dog-Fighting Ring Busted, Cops Arrest 8 After Finding Suspects Hiding In Rafters

Pit bulls and a puppy were among the animals officials say were discovered at a south suburban Chicago dog-fighting ring busted by police Wednesday night.

Police arrested eight men after witnessing an organized dog fight in an industrial park near the 1500 block of 142nd Street, reports the Sun-Times. The ring was reportedly set up at the end of a cul-de-sac in an industrial area near the Bishop Ford Freeway.

A tipster called police to complain about the dog fighting, according to WGN. Officers appeared on the scene around 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Two men reportedly fled to a nearby wooded area and were caught, the Tribune reported, while police found six more hiding in the rafters of the garage. NBC Chicago said according to police, at least one suspect was fresh out of jail from a previous dog fighting charge.

At least 10 dogs were rounded up, with investigators indicating to ABC Chicago the animals showed "improper signs of care and abuse."

One of the dogs, according to NBC, was "seriously injured" with an eye "ripped out."

Members of the South Suburban Humane Society are taking in the dogs; NBC said officials thought more dogs could be in nearby cars around the ring.

Dogfighting is, sadly, a fact of life for some residents in the Chicago area. DNAinfo Chicago reported last month that, according to an Anti-Cruelty Society survey, one in 15 Chicago children have witnesses have witnessed a dogfight in person. Police get the highest number of reported dogfights in Districts 11 -- which includes North Lawndale, on the West Side -- and 7, which includes Englewood, on the South Side.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story stated that "many" Chicago residents understand dogfighting as a fact of life in their communities. This was an inaccurate representation of the Anti-Cruelty Society data referenced above and the story has since been updated.