LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Police have arrested a man they said was running a longtime dog fighting ring in Louisville and charged him with several counts of animal cruelty.

Kareem Garner was arrested after an anonymous tip to the Louisville Metro Police Department about a "full-blown" dog fighting ring. 

Police said the "very detailed" tip led investigators to serve a search warrant at Garner's home on Lillian Avenue, in the Taylor Berry neighborhood, earlier this month where they found four "pit-bull type" dogs in "terrible condition." The dogs were living in kennels covered in feces or trapped in leg-high mud, and several have heartworms. 

According to court documents, police found supplements and medications, weighted collars, scales, carpet mills, dog fighting paperwork, spring poles and other evidence. Investigators said the evidence shows Garner was "involved in the owning, possessing, keeping, training, selling or otherwise transferring a dog for the purpose of fighting." 

LMPD investigators said they believe Garner's "stature in the dog fighting world is considered 'prolific'" and that he is "apparently well known in the region for dog fighting."

Garner was arrested and charged with four counts of dog fighting, which are felonies, and four counts of second degree cruelty to animals, which are misdemeanors. He's scheduled to appear in court on July 12.

LMPD said the dogs are now in the hands of Louisville Metro Animal Services where they are receiving treatment.

Kentucky ranks as one of the lowest states when it comes to animal protection laws, but state lawmakers recently have tried to improve that.

Kentucky State Rep. Susan Witten, R-District 31, sponsored House Bill 258 this past session, which expands the definition of animal torture and makes animal abusers first offense a felony instead of a misdemeanor.

"We need to make sure we hold these people accountable, they're not good four our community and they're not good for our society," said Witten.

State Senator Greg Elkins, R-District 28,  sponsored Senate Bill 243 to create harsher penalties for those that engage in animal fighting, but did not pass.

However, Elkins said he is committed to strengthening laws. Both he and Witten cite the correlation of animal abusers likely to commit violent crimes as a reason why. 

"It's a despicable activity," Elkins said. "It's an activity that's often we find garners other illegal activities surrounding animal fighting of any kind.” 

The police department's Animal Cruelty Enforcement Unit and Louisville Metro Animal Control assisted in the investigation. 

A mugshot of Garner was not immediately available.

This story may be updated.

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