Pit bull formerly used in fighting ring joins Virginia police department

At one time, a 3-year-old pit bull's life was confined to a fighting ring in Canada. But three years later, the young pup has been given a new lease on life, training to become an official K-9 officer for the Honaker Town Police Department in Virginia.

The dog, Dallas, along with 30 other pit bulls, were confiscated by officials with the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) in 2015, according to The Washington Post. Court documents from the time said the pups were constrained by stakes in the ground and multiple dog fighting items, including steroids, were found on the property, the newspaper reported.

Though 21 of the dogs -- including Dallas -- were slated to be euthanized, 18 of them were eventually saved after Rob Scheinberg, co-founder of Dog Tales, a rescue group in Ontario, hired a lawyer to fight for the pups.

Following a lengthy legal battle, Dallas and some of the other dogs were taken by Pit Sisters, a Florida organization which helps breeds that have difficulty getting adopted -- such as pit bulls -- find homes.

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