For the second time this week, authorities have seized from property in Warren County pit bull terriers suspected to have been used in dogfighting.

Five dogs were taken Friday afternoon from land that sits less than two miles north of a site where 12 pit bulls were taken away Sunday. Also found Friday were three dead pit bull pups.

By personnel with the Warren County Sheriff’s Department and Vicksburg-Warren Humane Society, the dogs were discovered in woods along C.J. Fisher Road, about 1/4 mile off Mississippi 27. Georgia Lynn, president of the Vicksburg-Warren Humane Society said three of the dogs had been used for fighting.

“One of the dogs had holes in his one of ears; a couple others had scarring on their heads and legs,” Lynn said. “It’s just a terrible thing.”

The dogs, tied to stakes with log chains, were found without water or food. Also found were syringes, vaccines and needles. The dogs were taken to the humane society, where they will be housed and given medical treatment.

“There’s no doubting it — dogfighting is here and it’s a problem,” Lynn said.

Unlike Sunday’s seizure, where a 16-by-16 foot pen used as a dogfighting arena was found, direct evidence that the dogs were being trained to fight was not discovered in Friday’s seizure. But Lynn said criminal charges may be a possibility.

No arrests had been made, but Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said investigations would continue.

As of Friday night, officials were not sure who owns the five dogs, but Lynn said that person has five days to request a hearing if he or she wishes to regain possession of the canines. If that request is made, the person must reimburse the humane society for medical care. A hearing would take place within two weeks after the request. If no hearing is requested, the humane society will be granted custody of the dogs.

The property combed by officials Friday on C.J. Fisher Road, like the land in the 8500 block of Mississippi 27 searched Sunday, was stumbled upon by Warren County Conservation Officer Doss Shropshire. He had been conducting routine hunting checks.

Shropshire said he took pictures of both sites, then notified the sheriff’s department and Lynn.

A game warden for 34 years, Shropshire said he had never come across anything like what he saw Sunday.

In Sunday’s seizure, Lynn and deputies found 10 adult pit bulls and two pit bull pups, all tied to trees or stakes with log chains. The dogs had no water or food, and a jaw-strengthening device was found.

Lynn said three of the pit bulls found Sunday had “definitely” been used in fights or as bait dogs. One of the dogs showed severe scarring.

The rest, she said, showed signs of serious neglect. Four of the dogs were taken to the humane society, two were taken to Animal Medical Clinic and six to Vicksburg Animal Hospital. All are receiving medical attention, Lynn said.

In Sunday’s seizure, Pace said there had been complaints of suspected dogfighting in that area for more than a year, but no real evidence had been found.

The only felony dogfighting conviction recorded in Warren County is that of Jon Brown, arrested in 2004 for training dogs for fights. In that case, Warren County deputies seized nine pit bull terriers and equipment, including treadmills and neck chains.

Brown pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years under the supervision of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. The sentence was suspended for five years. Brown was ordered to pay $4,085 in restitution, including $1,000 to the local humane society. He was also restricted from owning any dogs during his five years of probation.