Rescuers save dogs used by gang for fighting from a park

The two neglected dogs were abandoned in Penn Pines Park in Upper Darby
Animal welfare experts thought one of the poor animals had died of the abuse
Both are making a recovery despite their terrible ordeal inflicted upon them
Police Chief Michael Chitwood described the abusers as ‘real dirt balls’
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

By Darren Boyle for MailOnline

Published: 17:07 BST, 7 September 2017 | Updated: 17:28 BST, 7 September 2017

Police in Pennsylvania are hunting those responsible for abandoning two dogs used for fighting in a city park.

Upper Darby police have released photographs of the dogs, Gracie and Layla, after they were abandoned in the Penn Pines Park in Upper Darby, Philadelphia.

Officer responding to the incident feared one of the dogs was dead.

The two dogs were abandoned in Penn Pines Park in Upper Darby in Pennsylvania

The two dogs were abandoned in Penn Pines Park in Upper Darby in Pennsylvania

Officers feared the dog named Gracie, pictured, had died as a result of the horrific abuse

Officers feared the dog named Gracie, pictured, had died as a result of the horrific abuse

Police are seeking the public's help in order to bring the people responsible to justice

Police are seeking the public’s help in order to bring the people responsible to justice

According to the Upper Darby Police Department twitter feed: ‘ I’m sorry that I have to post this. Don’t mean to ruin your day. These dogs were abandoned in Penn Pines Park. They were obviously neglected and abused.

‘We are looking to identify the owner and/or the person responsible for this. If you recognize these dogs or know who is responsible I urge you to call us at 610-734-7693 or message me.

‘I would ask everyone to share this so we can bring those to justice.’

Russell Harper of Justice Rescue told CBS News: ‘When I picked her up she was as cold as an ice cube. She was on the brink of death right here. I’ve investigated thousands of cruelty cases and I thought she was dead. Gracie, the one, I thought she was dead’

Superintendent Michael Chitwood of the Upper Darby Police Department added: ‘It’s difficult to come up with a name for someone who would do something like this. I called them dirt balls I mean they really are dirt balls.

‘These animals were starved, they got very bad scars from physical abuse, not just the fighting, they were beat. So this is the life they have had for them.’