Lawmakers Working To Strengthen Pa. Laws Against Dog Fighting

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- There are new details about an alleged dog fighting ring that was broken up by humane agents on Friday night in Wilkinsburg.

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review reports 47-year-old Darryl Bryant faces animal cruelty charges in connection with the ring that local lawmakers say they've had their eye on.

Humane agents worked through the night removing 16 dogs from the Bessica Street home.

The owner of the dogs was arrested.

"When they actually are using electronic devices to prod the dogs into fighting; when they punish the dogs for not winning with electronic… actually, basically shocking them," said Pa. Rep. Dom Costa, of Morningside.

Rep. Costa and State Sen. Tim Solobay are working with the Humane Society of the United States.

They want legislation to strengthen the state's laws against dogfighting.

"What we'll be doing is strengthening some of the already fairly strong dog fighting laws here in Pennsylvania, but to work on some things that make these kind of things become a thing of the past in Pennsylvania," said Sen. Solobay.

Pennsylvania Director of the Humane Society of the U.S. Sarah Speed said that the arrest in Wilkinsburg has been a long time coming.

"This has been a well-known animal fighter in the community for a long time," Speed said. "It's taken a long time to get the evidence together necessary to make this evening happen."

Some of the dogs are being treated for open flesh wounds, but are expected to be okay.

The Trib also reports that police found dried blood stains covering the floor and walls of a hallway that leads to the home's basement.

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