In deadly tradeoff, seized pit bulls saved

A judge ruled Thursday that eight dogs seized in April from an alleged dog-fighting operation must be kept alive, despite a plea from Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Services that keeping the dogs is forcing them to kill others that are adoptable.

Judge Ellen Clark made the ruling in Spokane Superior Court because the dogs must be available as evidence for behavioral analysis or for other needs of the defense.

But SCRAPS Director Nancy Hill said to keep the eight pit bulls alive, her shelter has been forced to put down other dogs that could be adopted.

“The American Humane Society is opposed to adopting out dogs that have been trained for fighting or used in fighting,” said Hill.

The dogs in question were seized from a home at 8006 E. Utah Ave. on April 24. The dogs were wounded and scarred. One had stitches in its chest.

The backyard was set up so that the dogs could be attached to spaced posts with heavy metal chains.

Animal control officers and Spokane County sheriff’s deputies also confiscated veterinary supplies used to stop bleeding, performance enhancers and a dog treadmill that they said could be used to train and treat the dogs for fighting.

Peter S. Nelson and Alfredo L. Renteria have been charged with operating an illegal dog-fighting operation, operating an illegal kennel, confining animals in an unsafe manner and marijuana possession.

A trial in the case is scheduled to begin in September.