Officials say a New Orleans man has been arrested on charges he ran a dog fighting operation at his 7th Ward home.

Kathryn Destreza with the Louisiana SPCA says four pit bulls were found with severe injuries when police arrived at the Painters Street home last night, and one of the dogs had a fractured skull. (PLEASE NOTE THE BELOW PICTURE IS GRAPHIC)

"During the veternary exam, the veternarian discovered that the head had been beaten in," said Destreza. "He was actually dying when we picked him up."

LA/SPCA official Kathryn Destreza on the break-up of an alleged dog fighting operation in the 7th Ward:

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All four of the dogs were euthanized by veternarians.

The suspect, 59 year old Lloyd Mercadel, could face up to 25 years in prision if convicted on the dog fighting charge. He's also charged with creulty to animals.