Dog-fighting - over a dozen pit-bulls New Orleans, LA (US) Incident Date: Tuesday, Oct 7, 2003 County: Orleans Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: » Rudolph Bolds, Sr » Rudolph Bolds, Jr

Case ID: 1965 Classification: Fighting Animal: dog (pit-bull) View more cases in LA (US) Login to Watch this Case

Apparently used in dogfighting, more than a dozen pit bulls, some badly scarred on the face and body, were taken Monday by police and the SPCA from a vacant lot in the Lower 9th Ward next to Jackson Barracks, police said.

The dogs had been chained to fences, trees and abandoned cars. Thirteen pit bulls -- one so badly scarred from fighting it likely will be euthanized� -- along with a treadmill for training the dogs and photos of dogfighting led to the arrest of two New Orleans men on charges of dogfighting and animal cruelty Monday.

The dogs were chained to fences and a tree in a vacant lot across from the men's home in the Lower 9th Ward next to Jackson Barracks, police said.

One man, Rudolph Bolds Jr., 34, admitted the dogs were his and was arrested outside the home he shares with his parents at 6425 N. Johnson St., police said.

His father, Rudolph Bolds Sr., 58, also was arrested after the photographs and other evidence of dogfighting were found inside the home, police said.

Both men were booked with two counts of dogfighting and 13 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, both felony charges, police said. The charges carry a prison sentence ranging from one to 10 years, police said.

The dogs, which animal control officers said were medium-size, were tethered separately on heavy chains of varying length that kept them apart. Nearly every dog had a doghouse made out of a metal barrel in the large lot, and a large plastic container of water. It was unclear if they had been fed. Some of the dogs seemed thin, said Laura Maloney, executive director of the Louisiana SPCA.

Three pit bull puppies were found in a shed.

The SPCA learned of the operation a few months ago, but a previous check of the property failed to turn up any evidence of wrongdoing, said Kathryn Destreza, chief animal control officer. A second check was made Monday, Destreza said. Police said they received the report from the SPCA shortly after noon. "We didn't expect to find a treadmill," Destreza said.

Police checked records and learned the lot was owned by the elder Bolds, who also owned the house across the street at 6425 N. Johnson St.

Police got a warrant before searching the house. Inside the home police found items indicating dogfighting, New Orleans police spokesman officer Juan Barnes said.

While waiting for the warrant, police spotted a treadmill, modified for dogs, through an open door in the shed, Barnes said.

Police arrested the elder Bolds, who told police that his son was out of town on a cruise. But 30 minutes later, about 6:15 p.m., Rudolph Bolds Jr. showed up and was also arrested, Barnes said.

A pit bull puppy belonging to the elder Bolds were found in the back yard, and a Chihuahua in the house. They were not taken to the SPCA.

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The Times-Picayune

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