It may be the worst case of animal cruelty control officers have seen in Eastern Iowa. Today officers with the Cedar Bend Humane Society picked up a dog outside of Waterloo. It had been tied to a sign and a choke collar was buried in it's neck causing a severe wound. Animal control officers say it may be related to the illegal sport of dog fighting.  

She may be quiet right now but this pit-bull terrier has a story to tell. Black hawk County Animal Control Officers found her tied to a sign with a deep wound around her neck. Officer Maria Tiller says this is the third pit-bull found near the intersection of Elk-run Road and Newell Street just East of Waterloo. Tiller says this dumping area might be part of the illegal sport of dog fighting which she says is growing in Black Hawk County. "We get reports all the time on multiple pit-bulls, pit-bull fights in some of our parks. We get complaints about pit-bull fighting taking place in basements, in alley's, and in people's backyards."

Because the pit-bull terrier is the main breed used for dog fighting there is a misconception that it's a mean animal, but there are those who say that couldn't be further from the truth. Brenna is one of the pit-bulls the Cedar Bend Humane Society has rescued. Workers say she's a great pet and has become part of their family. They hope the pit-bull stereotype won't keep her from being adopted. Jessica Schnathorst of the Cedar Bend Humane Society says, "A lot of people come in and say oh she's a pit-bull. They think she's mean or think she could be a guard dog or anything like that. She would make a wonderful family dog for anybody."

As for their newest arrival, she will need her collar surgically removed because it's buried so deep in her skin and animal control officers say they will continue to look for those responsible. "I don't know what their intentions were but I don't honestly believe they were coming back for her. If we can find the owner charges are pending," says Tiller. In Black Hawk County the penalty for animal cruelty is determined by the judge who hears the case.