SAN ANTONIO -- Five people were charged with animal cruelty in connection with a suspected dogfighting raid in east Bexar County.

Acting upon a tip, sheriff's deputies made a surprise visit Saturday night to a property in Marion, where two pit bulls were found fighting, deputies said.

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Investigators: Dogs Were Chained

More than 30 people were on hand to allegedly fight or witness fights involving pit bulls, deputies said.

The property's owner, Brian Bailey, 43, was charged with animal cruelty along with four other people. More than 20 people were cited for attending the fight, deputies said.

Law enforcement officers removed more than 80 dogs, including 28 puppies, from the property.

"A lot of the (adult) dogs on the property are on chains," said Dave Garcia, of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "Tethered actually to car axles that have been driven into the the ground. These animals are scarred, heavily scarred, and some of them are showing their rib cage and skeletons."

The puppies were taken to the Humane Society where they are being cared for.

A judge will decide within 10 days whether the dogs can be adopted, given back to the owner or put to sleep.