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May
31, 2006
Blood
oozes from a wound on a rescued pit bull at the Lake County, Ind.,
Animal Control shelter on Tuesday.
Felony charges to be sought
On Tuesday, a contractor hired by Lake County was removing the dead
animals stored on the firefighter's property in the 3700 block of
West 48th Place in Calumet Township.
Except for a puppy and one or two young dogs, the pit bulls are
probably beyond rehabilitation, Lubarski said. "If I wouldn't
take that dog home, I wouldn't expect others to adopt it,"
he said.
Gary Mayor Rudy Clay said Tuesday he was appalled by reports of
the discovery. "First of all, I am an animal lover. What I
saw and hear, I don't condone it," he said.
Lake County Detective Michelle Weaver is preparing evidence to present
to prosecutors this week. She said she would seek felony charges,
including cruelty to animals, against the dogs' alleged owner, a
seven-year veteran of the Gary Fire Department.
'Still a firefighter'
Gary Weiss, attorney for the firefighter, said his client is prepared
to fight any charges.
Several firefighters contacted by the Post-Tribune declined to talk
about their colleague. Gary Fire Chief Robert Walker said if the
firefighter was involved in a dog fighting ring, many of his co-workers
knew about it.
"Everything on this job gets around," Walker said. "These
guys know everything about everybody. But they're not going to talk.
Whatever he did, he's still a firefighter."
Lake
County, Ind., Animal Control director Matt Lubarski and Sheriff
Roy Dominguez show Tuesday how pit bulls seized by authorities get
agitated when they see another dog, the sole puppy of the bunch.
Officials will seek charges against the dogs’ alleged owner.
Walker said no disciplinary action will be considered until he has
more information.
Authorities said conditions at the home were exceptionally bad.
"It's one of the worst cases of animal abuse I've ever seen,"
Lake County Sheriff Roy Dominguez said.
"It's unbelievable that a man sworn to protect life would do
this to another living being," Lubarski said.
Copyright 2006 Sun-Times News Group
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