Police: Several Malnourished Dogs And A 'Kill Kit' Found In Local Man's Home

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Animal cruelty charges have been filed after police say they found evidence of a dogfighting operation at a local home.

Police are praising neighbors for reporting a man now charged with animal abused for alleged dogfighting. Officers found evidence as soon as they arrived outside of his home.

Police say the investigation started when they found a dead, malnourished pit bull in front of a house in the 1600 block of Worthington Street in an isolated section of Lincoln-Larimer.

"Quite clearly, it had been killed in a very violent way," Cmdr. Jason Lando with the Pittsburgh Police Department said. "Its throat had been ripped out, and there were bugs crawling all over it."

Officers also saw five malnourished dogs in cages in the backyard and pieces of metal used for firearms target practice. Police say when the owner, 58-year-old David Cornish, showed up, he denied owning the animals. After noticing the malnourished dogs and outdoor equipment possibly used to train dogs for fighting, police got permission from Cornish to search the home, which had no heat, water or electricity.

"They found a bite suit, bite sticks, shock collars, prods, knives and swords," Lando said. "They found a mannequin that had bite marks all over it."

Four pit bulls and one Rottweiler were taken to the Animal Rescue League for examination.

"Very good, they seem to be medically stable and healthy," Dan Rossi with the Animal Rescue League said. "They were at a good, healthy weight, and they seem to be overall friendly dogs"

Cornish is charged with six counts of cruelty to animals, conspiracy and possessing instruments of a crime. Police also found a number of weapons and ammunition. And they say he was carrying a backpack that contained a "kill kit."

"Once the dog is beaten to a point where it can no longer survive, the bag contains tools to basically finish the dog off," Lando explained.

"Poor, defenseless animals, you train them to fight, and then when they don't live up to your expectations, you kill them brutally, and it's just unacceptable," Lando said.

Cornish is locked up in the Allegheny County Jail on a cash bond. Police say they believe the alleged dogfighting has been going on for some time, and they say we may never know many animals were killed or injured.

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