Animals Believed Used for Dogfights : Police Seize Pit Bulls in Raid on Home

One man was arrested and six pit bull terriers and equipment used to train them in fighting were seized Thursday by San Diego police after a monthlong investigation.

Vice Unit Cmdr. Kraig Kessler said more arrests and confiscation of fighting dogs were expected.

Ten officers, including two from the animal control unit, took a search warrant with them to the home of 19-year-old Luis Ivan Venegas about 11 a.m.

Venegas hid in the attic when police entered the premises in the 3100 block of F Street and refused to come out, police said. After an hour, officers were able talk to Venegas into surrendering.

Venegas was being held in County Jail on suspicion of cruelty to animals and possession of fighting animals. The six dogs were removed from the house by police and taken to San Diego County Animal Control.

Police said they suspect Venegas is a gang member whose dogs would fight the pit bulls of rival gangs and for gambling. They said Venegas probably also was in the business of selling puppies of the one female pit bull found in the house.

Kessler said two of the dogs had been seriously injured from past fights and two others appeared to have suffered fresh wounds.

Sally Hazzard, director of the animal control department, said an officer reported to her that the animals were in good condition.

Kessler said the animals often were taken to other locations, usually in Golden Hill and Southeast San Diego, where dogfight gambling is staged.

Kessler said the crackdown on dogfighting was prompted by the threat posed to the public by the fierce pit bulls, the gambling on dogfights, and the mistreatment of the animals.

“We believe there’s still a lot of dogfighting taking place in the city,” Kessler said.