Boy, 13, held as alleged organizer of pit-bull fight

When two police officers came upon an organized dogfight in a trash-ridden alley in South Los Angeles earlier this week, they found two battered and bloody pit bulls.

But the officers were surprised when they saw who allegedly was organizing the dogfight: a 13-year-old boy.

He now has become the first person in Los Angeles to face felony dog fighting charges since a special task force was formed two years ago to crack down on animal cruelty, LAPD Lt. Paul Vernon said.

If convicted, the boy faces up to three years in the California Youth Authority, a term that is considered a relatively tough punishment for a juvenile.

Police are looking for several other young teens who fled when officers arrived.

“This was a serious example of animal cruelty,” said LAPD Det. Susan Brumagin, who is part of the Los Angeles Animal Cruelty Task Force, which includes the LAPD, animal control officers and city prosecutors. “What makes it more tragic was that children were the organizers and spectators at this dogfight. The scariest part is that animal cruelty by children often morphs into human cruelty as adults.”

No statistics are available about incidents of children involved in animal cruelty. But experts say that it has long been a problem and that they have seen links in the past between gang activity and dog fighting.

Probes of animal cruelty nationwide are finding more children involved in the blood sport as owners and spectators, particularly in areas with gang activity, investigators said.

“We are certainly seeing younger and younger people involved in animal cruelty,” said Randall Lockwood, senior vice president of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Anti-Cruelty Initiatives.

He said dog fighting involves three types: the professional dog fighting breeders, the good-old-boy amateurs, and street fighting, which tends to be the one that involves youngsters.

“Street fighting often involves the cruelest acts because the owners don’t see the animal as an investment,” Lockwood said. “Gangs have been associated with young people in dog fighting in Chicago and elsewhere.”

LAPD officers arrested the teenager March 12 as he tried to flee with an injured pit bull on a chain near 113th and Grape streets. Investigators said a second youngster was trying to lift another injured pit bull over a wall. Animal Control officers rescued both animals.

The pit bulls, which had severe bites on their heads, necks and legs, were expected to recover after extensive medical treatment.

The 13-year-old -- who was not identified because of his age -- is being detained at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey. The boy will be tried in Juvenile Court.

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richard.winton@latimes.com