Canines rescued from North Philly dogfight

Humane law enforcement officers from the Pennsylvania SPCA seized several canines they said had been used in a dogfight inside a North Philadelphia home Sunday night.

The PSPCA found one dog that was dead, and eight others that were alive, including one that was badly injured. The PSPCA believes all of the animals were involved in dog fighting, although officials would not say whether it was part of an organized operation.

One suspect was taken into custody, and several other people fled when authorities arrived. The PSPCA said charges are pending and the investigation is ongoing.

The dog that sustained the most critical injuries, and which is now recovering, has been named George, in honor of the PSPCA’s late director of humane law enforcement George Bengal.

“All dogs have been signed over to the PSPCA where they will be cared for medically, rehabilitated” and eventually placed with new owners, the PSPCA said in a statement.

Philadelphia Police and Animal Care & Control Team officers who responded to the dogfight on the 600 block of West Diamond Street contacted the PSPCA.

Anyone with any information about other suspects involved in the dogfight is being urged to call the PSPCA’s animal cruelty hotline at 866-601-7722.