QUEENS — Two people who ran a dog-fighting ring were arrested in St. Albans after authorities raided their home last week and found 20 emaciated and injured pit bulls, officials said.
Addison Holder, 44, and Keisha Hall, 33, were taken into custody on Thursday as police, including members of the newly created NYPD Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad, executed a warrant on their home on 196th Street, near Linden Boulevard, after reports of dog fighting, authorities said.
Some of the animals at the location, which officials said was suspected of being used as a dog-fighting arena, had scarring on their faces and legs. Others wore large, weighted collars around their necks, according to the criminal complaint.
A number of the rescued pit bulls had no food or water near them, court documents said.
At the home, investigators also found a covered pit and equipment used to train animals for dog fighting, including a battery-powered device with wires attached to it, a treadmill with blood on it and the weighted harnesses, which are used to build muscle.
Police also found ecstasy and methamphetamine in the home.
The dogs were taken to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for treatment.
Holder and Hall were charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty, animal fighting and criminal possession of a controlled substance.
They were ordered held on $100,000 bail and are due back in court on Aug. 18, according to the Queens District Attorney's office.
The name of their lawyer was not immediately available.
