Wichita ? Police have asked for the public’s help in cracking down on an illegal dogfighting ring that was likely responsible for dumping about 10 dead pit bulls in city parks in the past three weeks.

“It’s kind of like illegal drag-racers. They’re close-knit. They quietly spread the word about where to meet,” said police Sgt. Alex Robinson.

Robinson said organized dogfighting, a felony in Kansas, was not a rampant problem but “definitely an issue of concern for the community.”

Police have some leads on where the dogfighting may be taking place, he said. The department’s air unit has helped search the area.

Residents and officers recently have stumbled across dog corpses bearing the telltale signs of dogfighting: puncture wounds and cuts to the head, neck and front legs. Some dogs were dumped among high weeds in Grove Park, while others were dropped by trash cans or along the curb. Some were wrapped in cloth or plastic bags.

Willie Burton, a resident of the neighborhood near Grove Park, said he has come across three dead dogs during morning walks.

“It’s disturbing for people using the park to come across dead animals,” Burton said.

John Alexander, president of the Matlock Heights Neighborhood Assn., said pit bulls were not uncommon in the neighborhoods around Grove Park.

Wichita animal control officer Drew Bessey said when he saw signs of fighting, it often involved pit bulls. The breed is popular among dogfighters because of their strong jaws and muscular bodies. But dogfighters will also put Chows, German shepherds or other breeds in the ring.

The fights are staged in back yards, inside houses or in basements, Bessey said. Winners are usually determined when one of the dogs either submits or dies.