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He said dogs with injuries consistent with dogfighting have been found in neighboring counties.

“If you can keep the dogs inside, that’s the best thing to do,” Williamson added. “Try to lock their kennel and make it difficult to get to the animal in any way.”

Meanwhile, county officials are trying to find out how a pit bull ended up wandering a South Valley neighborhood with 60 pounds – the equivalent of its own weight – in chains around its neck.

Larry Gallegos, a spokesman for Animal Care Services, said neighbors reported the male dog near the 1600 block of Lake SW on Saturday.

“You can’t do that to an animal,” Gallegos said. “You can’t chain up an animal like that, it’s not even supposed to be on a chain, period. That’s endangering the animal. Obviously if the owner is found, it would be a cruelty to animals” case.

The dog did not have any bite marks or injuries consistent with dog fighting, Gallegos said. He does not know why the dog was wearing the chains.

“The good thing is the dog was a healthy dog,” he added. “We took the chain off. But if someone put a 60-pound chain on your neck obviously that wouldn’t be a good thing.”

The dog is being held at a city Animal Welfare Department shelter.

The Bernalillo County Animal Care Services is seeking the public’s help in finding the owner, and asks anyone with information to contact the department 505 468-PETS.

The county’s Animal Care Ordinance specifies it is unlawful for a person to chain or otherwise hurt an animal.

The degree of animal cruelty in this case has not yet been determined since the dog was found in good health, but penalties for violating the ordinance can include a maximum fine of up to $300, up to 90 days in jail, or both. The city also prohibits chaining animals.