TUCSON - Pima County animal welfare officials have euthanized nearly 100 pit bulls seized from a breeding operation suspected of supplying fighting dogs to rings across the nation.
The 94 dogs killed were among 110 sheriff's deputies seized from the owners of the Picture Rocks kennel in the Tucson Mountains during a raid in February.
Kennel owners Mahlon Patrick and Emily Dennis have been indicted along with four others on 69 felony and misdemeanor counts alleging animal cruelty, dog fighting and failure to obtain licenses.
Lawyers for the defendants say their clients are legitimate breeders.
A spokeswoman for the Pima Animal Care Center called Thursday "a brutal day."
