Dog fight broken up in Northeast Austin

AUSTIN (KXAN) - After receiving a call of a suspected dog fight, police officers went to a Northeast Austin home to find two pit bulls tied up in the backyard with obvious fight wounds on their heads, necks and legs.

On Friday, the call came through reporting a dog fight. Neighbors heard noises coming from a house on Riverstone Drive and walked out onto their back patio. There, they could clearly see two men fighting two dogs in their backyard. The men noticed the neighbors and fled.

When police arrived, they found two pit bulls in the backyard who were panting heavily and had blood over half of their bodies.

One of the neighbors described one of the dog owners to the police.

Town Lake Animal Shelter took in the two pit bulls and examined their injuries. The white female dog had many abrasions and puncture wounds to her face, neck and legs. Her face was swollen, and she was underweight. She tested positive for tape worms, heartworms, hookworms and whip worms. The brown female pit bull also had many puncture wounds to her face, neck and legs. She tested positive for heartworms and hookworms.

While at the shelter, one of the employees recognized the white pit bull and claimed to know her owner. He positively identified Randy Council, 18, as the owner.

Police went to where the employee claimed Council lived, but found the house vacant. However, a neighbor showed police where Council would tie up his dog and claimed Council would walk his dog into the nearby woods and fight her.

The neighbor called the number they had for Council, but his girlfriend answered the phone. The neighbor said they could get Council's dog back if he cooperated. He said he did not want the dog back after animal control seized her.

Council is accused of dog fighting, a state felony.