Sep 05, 2015 Chicago Man charged with running dogfighting ring in Fuller Park neighborhood

Chicago - “A 43-year-old Fuller Park man was ordered held in Cook County Jail after he was charged with 10 felonies in connection with a dogfighting ring he's accused of running, according to police.
Chicago Man Accused of Dogfighting 
Clifford McNeil, was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, felony dogfighting, misdemeanor animal owner duty violations and eight misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals.

Police obtained "credible intelligence of animal cruelty and dog fighting activity" and gained entry to the yard and garage of a home in the 4800 block of South Shields about 10 a.m. Friday.”

“Police found 16 pit bulls on the property, including seven pit bulls connected to heavy chains in the yard, one pit bull in a cage filled with feces and a pit bull in a cage inside the garage, which was with seven two-week old pit bull puppies with no access to food or water, prosecutors said.
One of the fighting dogs confiscated
The yard and the dog houses in the yard were littered with feces, prosecutors said. No people lived in the garage.

Inside the garage, Police also discovered a modified treadmill with a chain and wooden boards designed to narrow the dog’s path, a modification “commonly indicative of training dogs to fight,” prosecutors said.”

“Neighbors raised questions about the charges against McNeil Saturday, and several agreed that McNeil had a “heart of gold.”

They said McNeil was simply a dog lover, and someone who anchored the neighborhood with his generosity. He cut neighbors’ lawns, worked on landscaping and allowed the neighbors to park their cars at the garage he maintained as an alternative to street parking.”

Read more:
Chicago Tribune

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