By Susan Gager

BENTON COUNTY, Ore. -- Benton County Police officers expected to find marijuana while doing a routine drug bust, but what they didn't account for was the discovery of a secret dog fighting training operation.

Police raided a site in Alsea and discovered a secret dog fight training operation.

Police found 15 emaciated dogs scarred and wounded on the property off of South Fork Road. They say the pit bulls appeared to be victims of dog fight training.

Veterinarians from the Heartland Humane Center took in the dogs, and even stitched a split lip for one of the dogs.

According to police, the property was rented by a drug runner. They found evidence that lead to the dog fight operation on Wednesday while searching a home for marijuana.

"A little surprising they that we found dog fighting associated with it. But at the same time when your life is about breaking the law, it doesn't surprise us they branch out into other sorts of criminal activity, and in this case it happens to be dog fighting," said Corvallis Police Captain Jonathon Sassaman.

Captain Sassaman says this is the first dog fighting operation discovered in Benton County. They also seized 14 pounds of marijuana valued at more than $70,000 from the premises.

Corvallis Police say there are likely others involved in dog fighting in the area. So if you have any additional information give them a call.