Dog-fighting, attempted suicide Omaha, NE (US) Incident Date: Friday, Jun 2, 2006 County: Douglas Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Charges: Felony CTA Case Images: 1 files available Alleged: Patrick L. Wright Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Case ID: 8999 Classification: Fighting, Neglect / Abandonment Animal: dog (pit-bull) View more cases in NE (US) Login to Watch this Case

Police on Friday, June 2, uncovered what they believe is a dog-fighting operation at a home near Fontenelle Park.

A call was placed to dispatchers at about 5 a.m. reporting an attempted suicide by hanging. Once inside the house, near 44th and Sprague streets, officers found evidence that dog fights had been happening inside for at least a year.

"There's blood everywhere in this house," said Nebraska Humane Society Officer Mark Langan. "On the floor, the walls. We have walls in the basement coated with smeared blood, which is an indication the dogs were fighting in the basement. We have dog-fighting magazines, dog-fighting paperwork inside the address. We have a treadmill specifically designed for dogs to condition on. All things found in dog-fighting houses. Shows you what a vicious crime this is."

Langan said investigators also found a list of names in the home that will fuel further investigation. Two pit bulls were removed from the home. They are malnourished and scarred. They are at the Nebraska Humane Society as officials decide whether to pursue dog-fighting charges against the owner.

Neighbor R.J. Dockweiler said he never called authorities, but said he had suspicions about what was going on.

"You'd hear the dogs barking, and we'd see them outside with a rag doll, basically teasing the dogs," Dockweiler said.

Langan said this isn't the first or last similar case he's seen.

"I had no idea it was going on when I was on the Omaha Police Department. But believe me when I tell you, Omaha has got a large dog-fighting problem."

The dogs' owner is in a hospital. Humane Society officials said they plan to talk to him before they contemplate charges.

Dog fighting is a felony that could carry up to five years in prison. Langan said fighting dogs, training dogs or even watching a dog fight are all felony offenses.

The NHS has a dog-fighting hot line to report fights. It is 402-444-7800.

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References

	The Reader - June 7, 2006
	KETV - June 2, 2006
	WOWT - June 2, 2006

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