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DMX Hounded by Dog Abuse Claims

Officials seize 12 pit bulls, weapons from rapper’s AZ home

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 25, 2007 3:16 PM CDT

(Newser) – Authorities seized 12 distressed pit bulls and a large cache of weapons from the Arizona home of rapper DMX yesterday, MTV says, after receiving a tip that the dogs were housed in inhumane conditions. The hip-hop star, whose real name is Earl Simmons, wasn’t home at the time of the raid, but officials said they would like to question him.

No arrests have been made, but police, who found the charred remains of at least one dog in DMX’s backyard, said he was being investigated for dogfighting. The rapper’s attorney suggested his caretaker was to blame for the dogs’ conditions. In 2002, DMX was busted in New Jersey for animal abuse and later filmed a PSA against animal abuse.

[Images (4)]

[Videos (3)]

DMX speaks to the media as his wife Tashera looks on in this Jan.13, 2006 file photo, in New York. Sheriff's deputies raided the home of rapper DMX on Friday, August 24, 2007, seizing several pit bulls... (Associated Press)

DMX stars in "Never Die Alone." (KRT Photos)

DMX stars in Warner Bros. Pictures' action thriller "Cradle 2 the Grave." (KRT Photos)

2002 MTV Movie Awards (Getty Images)

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DMX - Dogs for life (Lilrascal4lyfe (YouTube))

dmx dogs out (mymyby (YouTube))

The Dog DMX (bryanzboo4real (YouTube))

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DMX Hounded by Dog Abuse Claims