Dogfighting tied to Chicago-area day care

MAYWOOD, Ill., Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Authorities say they arrested three people who allegedly ran a dogfighting operation out of a Chicago-area day care center.

Cook County sheriff's police seized nine dogs from the Maywood location that required medical treatment for injuries that included missing eyes and mangled legs.

"Kids were playing on a swing set just 10 feet away from a vicious fighting dog and blood-stained floors," Sheriff Tom Dart said. "The very equipment used to train these dogs to kill was being kept in the garage right behind the house."

The Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday the owner of the day care claimed to have no knowledge of the goings on and that the children at the center were never exposed to any vicious animals.

Police say the dogs were quartered at a nearby home by an ex-con who charged the owners $60 per month.