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Hearing In Case Of Rescued Pit Bulls

MONROE (WWJ) - There's a hearing Wednesday morning in Monroe County Circuit Court in a controversial case involving the fate of three pit bull mix dogs that were taken during a raid of an alleged dog fighting ring.

Reilly, Dusty and Monroe were confiscated after the raid in March and later ordered put to death. But the Monroe County SPCA and the Buster Foundation are appealing the death sentence. The Buster Foundation on Wednesday is asking a judge to let them care for the dogs pending that appeal.

Joanne Dixon of the animal welfare group Providing for Paws supports that request. She said the dogs are being abused at the animal shelter. "The dogs were found with septic waste poured over the top of them," Dixon said.

Dixon claims there was a gash on Reilly's leg.

"It clearly went all the way to the bone ... It looks like a knife wound," Dixon said. "They have no explanation for any of Reilly's wounds whatsoever."

The three groups claim the dogs were not injured and were not fighting dogs when they were taken in to the shelter. They claim their injuries were suffered there. Dixon said the dogs are not getting proper veterinary care.

Assistant County prosecutor Jack Simms denies the dogs are being abused at the shelter. He said there's a vet on staff and that the shelter is subject to yearly state inspections.

The prosecutor's office argues that the dogs are too dangerous to be released.

 - View video of the dogs at this link -

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