Two men to be charged
in illegal dog-fighting ring

By William Kenny
Times Staff Writer

At first, a passer-by saw an injured, bleeding dog roaming the fenced-in yard of a former auto parts business in Frankford. Then when police and animal control officers showed up, they spotted a second dog in similar condition.
The authorities decided to enter the site to investigate further. Inside, they allegedly found 16 additional abused dogs of various breeds and in various states of health, along with an arena where police believe illegal fights were staged.
On Oct. 24, police identified the two men that they believe were in charge of the criminal operation.
Terrance Hayward, 33, of the 2300 block of N. Opal St., surrendered to police and has been charged with cruelty to animals and conspiracy, according to Lt. Rick Sysol of Northeast Detectives.
Bryant Page, 30, of the 1900 block of Berkshire St., is in federal custody on an unrelated matter and will be charged locally in connection with the dog-fighting case, Sysol added.
Though police did not witness organized dog fighting, they have no doubt what Hayward and Page were doing with the 18 dogs.
The men were renting a portion of the vast industrial property at 1198 Adams Ave., near Wingohocking Street, from a New York-based woman and her father, Sysol said. They allegedly told the owners that they were operating a kennel.
On Oct. 6, police received a tip from an undisclosed person that a bleeding dog was roaming the property. The lessors weren’t at the property when the cops arrived, along with officials from the Pennsylvania SPCA and PACCA.
The authorities decided to enter the property when they observed a second dog in need of medical attention.
All of the dogs except one were kept separate by chains, though the animals were in close-enough proximity to torment one-another, according to Sysol. Meanwhile, the roaming dog was free to fight with each of the chained animals.
"The loose dog was going after the other ones," Sysol said.
In addition to the alleged fighting arena, police found a treadmill and pool that they believe dog-owners used to train and strengthen the animals.
One dog was so badly hurt that authorities euthanized it at the scene. The other 17 animals were taken to an SPCA facility at 600 E. Erie Ave. ••
Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215-354-3031 or bkenny@phillynews.com