Richmond animal-control officers have seized 21 dogs from a home in the 1700 block of North 23rd Street.
A spokesman for Richmond Animal Care and Control said the animals were a variety of ages and found in various states of health.
"We can't comment in detail because of the ongoing investigation," Lt. Mark Wachner said.
Search warrants filed Wednesday indicate that authorities also seized two treadmills, medicines, supplements, and equipment and other items commonly associated with training dogs for fighting.
A search of the home earlier this month was prompted by the sounds of dogs in a garage, according to the documents.
The resident of the home, Deano Alphonsus Jones, 46, has previous cruelty convictions in Richmond, elsewhere in Virginia and in North Carolina, according to one of the search warrants.
Jones could not be reached for comment, and police spokesman James Mercante referred questions on charges to the Animal Care and Control Department yesterday. An official there could not be reached for comment yesterday afternoon.
Police spokesman Gene Lepley said yesterday that there was no record of police charging Jones.
Animal-control officers in the Richmond area have made multiple seizures of fighting dogs and equipment in recent months.
In July, search warrants identified Tracy Mark Anthony Tucker of Henrico County as someone involved in dogfighting across the state and as an associate of Richard E. Robinson.
Robinson was convicted of multiple felonies last month in a dogfighting operation at his South Richmond home, where he operated Old School Kennels. He faces sentencing March 5; a jury recommended a total of 10 years in prison on four guilty verdicts.
Another figure in the area is former Richmond sheriff's deputy David W. Robinson, a Henrico resident who faces a Feb. 25 trial on multiple charges related to dog fighting.
Contact Bill McKelway at (804) 649-6601 or bmckelway@timesdispatch.com.
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