State police seized 28 dogs from West Hazleton home Thursday morning as part of an animal cruelty and dog fighting investigation.
The dogs, along with numerous items of animal fighting paraphernalia, were discovered when the Pennsylvania State Police Animal Cruelty Officer assisted with a search warrant at the residence.
While on scene, multiple indicators of involvement with animal fighting were observed, police said.
A subsequent search warrant was obtained and resulted in the discovery of 19 crated dogs inside the residence and eight crated inside a backyard shed. An additional dog was running loose on the property and captured.
The dogs were removed from the residence with the assistance of Griffin Pond Animal Shelter and the Luzerne County Animal Response Team. Griffin Pond temporarily cared for the dogs, which were later placed in the care of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The dogs will undergo forensic veterinary evaluations, general veterinary care and behavioral analysis, police said.
The subject of the search warrant was lodged in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility on other criminal charges. Police did not release the name or exact location of the home.
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