An international dog-fighting ring has been busted in Brazil where the losing animals were barbecued and eaten by crowds at the brutal contests.

Forty-one people, including a doctor, a vet, a police officer and an American, were arrested at the clandestine event on a remote farm in Mairiporã, Greater São Paulo on Saturday.

Two children, aged 12 and 14, allegedly accompanying their father, were also present at the blood-sport.

Nineteen severely injured pit bulls, including puppies, were rescued in the early morning raid by Paraná Civil Police and São Paulo Department of Citizen Protection Police (DPPC).

Nineteen severely injured pit bulls, including puppies, were rescued in the early morning in the raid on a remote farm in Mairiporã, Greater São Paulo on Saturday (pictured: one of the pit bulls with bloody gashes torn out of its face)

A large piece of roasted dog meat with the tail still attached was reportedly served to participants at the sickening event. Other pieces of dog meat were also understood to have been fed to the winning dogs

Police arrested 40 people including doctors, veterinarians, a military police officer, five foreigners and some teenagers involved in a dog fighting ring

When armed cops stormed the isolated location, they found a suspect holding two dogs that were locked at the jaws.

Detectives said the wretched animals were pitted against each other in a battle to the death.

Police said it was part of an international dog-fighting circuit held last year in the Dominican Republic.

An American man from California was acting as referee of the dog fight when police raided the property.

Footage taken inside the macabre fighting ring shows a man appearing to act as a referee between two of the dogs

Among the animals were dogs so weak they could barely stand, all with brutal scars on their bodies

One of the dogs is wrapped up by officers after it was found lying limply on the floor

One of the men appears to be in the ring with a pair of dogs when the police arrive and can be seen pulling them apart while saying something to the officers

The seriously wounded creatures were found tied up and caged. Some were hiding under furniture.

All showed signs of mutilation, inflicted from bites and claws, suffered during the vicious bouts.

One critically injured dog was found dying on a table. Two others later died from their wounds.

A large piece of roasted dog meat with the tail still attached was reportedly served to participants at the sickening event.

One of the dogs had vicious lumps taken out of its face

The spectators were cuffed and lined up at the wall while police officers searched the place for evidence and dogs which were living in various out houses

Spectators were bound in cuffs and made to lie face down on the floor during the raid

An officer searches through one of the ramshackle outhouses where dogs were kept in cramped cages

Body parts from the dead losers were also allegedly fed to the emaciated and callously maimed creatures.

People around the world placed online bets on the fights, police said. Photos and video footage provided by police showed malnourished animals with bloody gouges on their faces.

One of the dogs, laid out on an ironing board, appeared unable to lift itself.

The investigation started with police targeting a breeder and a trainer in the state of Parana, authorities said.

Distressing footage shows one of the men attempting to separate a pair of fighting dogs during the police raid on the farm

All showed signs of mutilation, inflicted from bites and claws, suffered during the vicious bouts (pictured: a dog with a bloodied face strains at his leash)

A barbaric party atmosphere was put on in the farm, with a large fire used for roasting dog meat

A joint of dog meat is laid out on the table with condiments for spectators

Officers lead one of the suspects away from the farm in the early hours on Saturday

Officers followed the two suspects to Sao Paulo and requested support from the state police before making arrests.

Almost all the suspects posted bail, and the foreigners are prohibited from leaving Brazil, the local media site G1 said.

A judge blocked release of the man accused of organising the event.