Dogs rescued from possible dog-fighting ring in Germantown

Animal control officers are investigating a potential dog-fighting ring in Philadelphia's Germantown section.

The SPCA executed a search warrant Wednesday on a home located on the 6300 block of Lambert Street.

They got a tip that dogs had been abandoned inside the home, and when they arrived they discovered four dogs alive, one dog dead, and two snakes in an aquarium.

The dogs were chained in the basement in deplorable conditions.

The animals had clearly been neglected. The dogs are emaciated - some of them injured from trying to escape the heavy chains.

Investigators suspect this was a dog breeding and dog fighting operation, perhaps linked to narcotics.

Despite the filthy conditions, the smell is overwhelming, they believe someone was living in the home.

Investigators do have a name and they are working to get a warrant for that person.

SPCA Investigator George Bengal tells us, "It's horrendous in there. These dogs, apparently, had been left in there approximately a week, ok. There was some water, but after a week it wasn't palatable. The water was filthy. The dogs were standing in their own urine and feces down there - it was covered, the whole basement."

Investigators also found what they believe to be illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia.

They said this house is typical of dog-fighting operations they find around the city.

The suspect they are getting the warrant for is facing felony charges.