JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- More than 100 confiscated pit bulls were recently euthanized and Jacksonville's Animal Care and Control has found itself on the defensive over the decision to put the dogs down.

More Than 100 Pit Bulls Seized, Killed

The dogs were seized last Friday from a Northwest Jacksonville home where police arrested four people in connection with a suspected dogfighting operation.

Of the 116 pit bulls confiscated, 102 have been put down. The 14 others, mostly puppies and a few of their mothers, were spared and will be able to be adopted.

Ed Obrero at Animal Care and Control told Channel 4 that several of the dogs from the raid had ringworm, a contagious fungus that's very expensive to treat. He said most had injuries from dogfighting and showed aggression toward other dogs.

Since the dogs were found and taken to Animal Care and Control on Friday, Channel 4 has received many phone calls and emails from viewers who are outraged that so many dogs were put down.

Local animal rescue groups said they wished they were called and given the opportunity to help.

"I just cried. It's just a shame when people make mistakes the animals have to pay," said Gail Bondi of Happy Tails Animal Rescue.

Bondi said even though her rescue facility is full she believes more of the dogs could have been saved.

"I think that with a little bit of time if they had contacted rescued groups somebody would have come and rescued some of them," Bondi said.

Mike Vermette, who runs Mike's Doghouse pit bull rescue in Palatka, said he doesn't totally agree with Animal Care and Control's actions but that he doesn't think there were other options.

He said his shelter is full and the veterinarian bills for one of the confiscated dogs could run into the thousands.

"You either got to decide to put money and hopes to roll the dice with a dog that might be able to convert into a pet or the ones they're crying about everyday that an owner turned in and is fully vetted, 3 years old and is used to sleeping on a couch with a cat, which dog do you save first?" Vermette said.

Animal Care and Control said it didn't contact rescue groups because it did not know when the raid was going take place and did not expect the large number of dogs.