Police in Fresno, Calif., discovered the shocking scene of three pit bulls stabbed to death during the early morning hours Tuesday, the Fresno Police Department confirmed to KNX Radio.
“This is being investigated as a felony cruelty to animal case,” said the police, who added that the dogs were found around 3 a.m. at the 4200 block of North Fresno.
More than 48 million households in the U.S. own dogs, according to research from the American Veterinary Medical Association.
As of a 2014 TIME report, pit bulls made up 6% of the dog population and had a reputation for being violent. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has put out a position statement about pit bulls that said all dogs should be considered individuals regardless of their breed.
According to the Humane Society, even though there are a “shocking number of animal cruelty cases reported every day,” most cases are never reported. State and federal agencies don’t compile databases about violent crimes about animals, said the society. However, one survey cited by it found that 71% of domestic violence victims reported that their abuser also targeted pets.
A report from the Fresno Bee said “police do not suspect the owner of being involved in the violence to the pit bulls.”
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