Dozens of pit bulls seized in Johnson County

Johnson County sheriff’s deputies seized about 40 pit bulls and pit-bull mixes from property behind a manufactured home between Venus and Mansfield on Tuesday.

Four dogs were found dead, and 36 were taken to the Humane Society of North Texas in Fort Worth, sheriff's Detective Steve Shaw said.

"We got a complaint for animal cruelty, and we found the dogs in poor condition," Shaw said.

There were pans of dirty, stagnant water for the animals, but there was no food.

The dogs were chained behind the residence and were malnourished, and some of the pit bulls had scars. Shaw said investigators are trying to determine if the dogs were used for fighting.

Shaw said he is obtaining a search warrant for the home in the 3900 block of Reese Drive between Venus and Mansfield.

The mobile home was being removed from the property when deputies arrived, he said, and the property owner was not at the scene.