Nicole Lynn Hairston, 32, and Tso Calloway, 21, both of Fallowfield Avenue, on Thursday each waived their right to a preliminary hearing on charges of cruelty to animals and three related summary offenses before Magisterial District Judge Larry Hopkins in Charleroi.
K-9 Officer Bill Gardner and Officer Ryan Brand found the dogs July 11 when they were checking for squatters at a condemned three-story apartment building in the 700 block of Washington Avenue.
Residents had been ordered to leave the building by July 1. Hearing a dog barking, the officers said they forced their way inside a vacant apartment and found the dogs inside a sweltering, feces-stained bedroom with no food or water.
Police said the young pit bulls – one male and two females ranging in age from 1 to 3 – were emaciated and in poor health.
The dogs were handed over to a humane officer in Washington County. All have reportedly found new homes.
No trial date has been set for Hairston or Calloway. They remain free on $2,500 unsecured bond.
(Tribune Live - Sept. 11, 2015)
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