Humane law enforcement officers found six dead puppies in a trash can at a Philadelphia home this week after serving a second search warrant at a house suspected to be involved in dogfighting.
Also found at the house, located on the 400 block of East Rittenhouse Street in the city’s Germantown neighborhood, were another dead dog inside the house and two living dogs — one in the backyard and one inside. The Pennsylvania SPCA is now seeking the public’s help to figure out how the dogs wound up at the house, which was unoccupied when officers served the warrant.
PSPCA officials said the warrant served on Tuesday was the second served at the same house. In September 2014, PSPCA officers also removed four dogs and two puppies from the house, some of whom had untreated bite wounds and other injuries. That seizure led to animal cruelty charges for Wayne Charleston, who was living at the house at the time. Officials said the case against Charleston is pending.
When officers entered the house this week, in addition to the dogs, they found blood on the walls, leading them to again suspect a connection to dogfighting. They said they’re unsure whether anyone is living at the house currently and are asking that the public come forward with any information on the property.
Humane officers returned to the street Thursday and found three additional dead dogs in a yard across the street from the home. Officials suspect one of those dogs is the mother of the puppies found in the trash can.
Anyone with information should contact the PSPCA’s cruelty hotline at 866-601-SPCA (7722). Tipsters may remain anonymous.
