Animal Control: 19 Dogs Living In Barrels

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Sheriff's deputies and Franklin County animal control were at a West Side home Friday.

NBC 4's Tanya Hutchins reported from the scene with the FAST FACTS.

Acting on information received from animal control and the Capital Area Humane Society, the sheriff's special investigations unit executed search warrants relating to a suspected dog-fighting operation at two addresses: 289 Dakota Avenue and 906 Harrisburg Pike.

Neighbors said fences went up at 906 Harrisburg Pike about a month ago and they started to hear barking all night.

Hutchins said there were a total of 19 dogs at the address; 18 of them were pit bulls.

Joe Rock, with animal control, said some of the dogs were OK, while some had evidence of past injuries and deformities. Some of the dogs were friendly, and some were not socialized.

Rock said the dogs' water was frozen and they were living in plastic barrels.

Deputies recovered “break sticks,” which are used to separate fighting dogs, veterinary medications, underground dog-fighting publications, photographs, documents and 18 pit bull dogs.

"You have to put yourself in the position of any living creature," one official said. He said that if you were on a chain, in the cold, you, too, would want someone to help you.

The dogs' owner Danielle Meade was arrested for possessing dogs for the purpose of fighting and possessing criminal tools, according to the sheriff's office.

Further arrests were expected.

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