Sick thugs in the Bronx are capturing stray cats and using them as live bait to train ferocious pit bulls for illegal underground dog fighting rings, a Big Apple animal rights group told the Post.
Disturbing video footage shows helpless felines being attacked by bloodthirsty hounds — According to New York City’s Ritter Wanderers, it’s part of an exasperating training program for vicious dog fights.
“It’s been going on for years at Gun Hill and Parkland. [housing] project, and that’s the reality,” said group co-founder Courtney Chandel. “My question is, where is the NYPD? Where is the NYPD? [New York City Housing Authority]? Where is the ASPCA? NYCHA needs to take action.
“People have called 311 about this issue in the past and nothing happened,” Chandel said. “Even if you start addressing the issue, it’s quickly taken down.
“It’s public knowledge. It’s not a big secret and it’s happening everywhere.”
a Video posted online by Little Wanderers The photo shows a light brown pit bull terrier attacking a black and white cat, with the defeated kitten desperately trying to fend off the dog’s attack.
Another clip shows the hooded scammer snatching the cat from the front door of an apartment building, grabbing the cat and stuffing it into a bag before walking away down the hallway.
Illegal dog fighting has been going underground in the Big Apple for decades, with four-legged fighting dogs trained to be bloodthirsty before clashing with other dogs in sick gambling tournaments.
Mr. Chandel said he has had success with two housing projects in the Bronx.
“The Bronx is an underserved community,” she says. “There are no animal shelters and little old ladies walking around the neighborhood with shopping carts full of cat food, spending their SSI checks on cat food.
“In the Bronx, people don’t have access to low-cost spay and neuter programs,” Chandel said. “We are the wealthiest city in the country and we build all these statues and make sure there are flowers in the parks.
“Everything was done for humans.
“But there are millions of people in the city who care about animals, who see animals suffering, who see cats there every day,” she added. “It’s a quality of life issue. Animals and children should come first.”
The Post reached out to the NYPD, but did not immediately receive a response.
