{"id":2600,"date":"2021-11-15T19:26:33","date_gmt":"2021-11-16T03:26:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/2021\/11\/18\/dog-fighting-rescuing-pit-bulls-does-not-mean-they-are-saved\/"},"modified":"2021-11-18T19:39:21","modified_gmt":"2021-11-19T03:39:21","slug":"dog-fighting-rescuing-pit-bulls-does-not-mean-they-are-saved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/2021\/11\/15\/dog-fighting-rescuing-pit-bulls-does-not-mean-they-are-saved\/","title":{"rendered":"Dog Fighting \u2013 Rescuing Pit Bulls Does Not Mean They Are \u2018Saved\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
Phyllis M Daugherty 15 November 2021<\/pre>\n
ANIMAL WATCH – Our last report on this topic,\u00a0Dog Fighting is Thriving in U.S. – Hundreds of Pit Bulls Seized<\/a>, was posted on Jun 13, 2021, when\u00a042 pit bulls were seized in a Florida dog-fighting\u00a0ring\u00a0bust.\u00a0\u00a0It didn\u2019t take long for another arrest and the many more to be reported in 2021.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
But, what is happening to the Pit Bulls\u00a0involved after the courts have made their decision on the criminals?\u00a0 Are they really “saved” or just moved to another lifetime sentence in a cage?<\/p>\n
Or are they released to become part of the rising statistics of horrendous, and often fatal, attacks after adoption as a “second chance” dog?<\/p>\n
Placerville, CA, Man Charged with Possessing 27 Dogs for Use in Dog Fighting<\/strong><\/p>\n
June 24, 2021<\/strong>\u00a0– The Department of Justice issued a formal statement by Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert, that a CA federal grand jury \u201creturned a 27-count indictment against Carlos Villasenor, 30, of Placerville, CA, charging\u00a0him with possession of dogs for use in an animal fighting venture.\u201d<\/p>\n
Court documents\u00a0indicated<\/a>\u00a0that, \u201con June 17, law enforcement agents executed a federal search warrant at Villasenor\u2019s property and seized 27 pit bull type-dogs, one of whom had injuries to its face consistent with an attack from another dog. Many of the dogs also had untreated veterinary conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Agents also found implements indicative of a dog-fighting operation, including a breeding stand, treadmills, and veterinary supplies including skin staplers, antibiotics, syringes, and IV bags. They also found paperwork indicating that Villasenor owned dogs used in dog fighting, according to the media release.<\/p>\n
Villasenor faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, if convicted, plus payment of restitution for the care and rehabilitation of the dogs, as determined by the court if he is\u00a0proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.<\/p>\n
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July 12, 2021\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013\u00a0A Florida\u00a0man\u00a0is facing felony animal cruelty charges after an investigation revealed evidence of both\u00a0dog fighting<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0rooster fighting<\/strong>\u00a0at his home, according to a release by the Collier County Sheriff\u2019s Office, the\u00a0Orlando Sentinel\u00a0<\/em>reports.<\/p>\n
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office released the following statement:<\/p>\n
A 40-year-old Golden Gate man faces multiple felony animal cruelty charges after a month-long investigation by the Collier County Sheriff\u2019s Office revealed evidence of dog fighting at his residence.<\/em><\/p>\n
Rafael Jesus Del-Valle-Jomarron of 2136 52nd Lane turned himself in at the Naples Jail Center late Friday afternoon. Detectives charged him with four counts of animal cruelty \u2013 causing cruel death, pain or suffering; one count of animal fighting act \u2013 baiting, breeding, owning animal; and one count of animal fighting act \u2013 sell, possess, use equipment for fighting or baiting.<\/em><\/p>\n
Detectives said Del-Valle-Jomarron is a convicted felon who operated an organized dog fighting ring at his home. Detectives released images of some of the abused dogs.<\/em><\/p>\n
According to the\u00a0Sentinel, \u201csix female bull terriers, one female hound dog, two male bull terriers and a rooster with severe injuries were seized from the property. Three of the dogs were pregnant, including one with a deep laceration to its chest, sheriff\u2019s officials said.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0One of the dogs had 249 scars and wounds.<\/p>\n
July 31, 2021<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Connecticut\u00a0police raided a home in Meridan and seized 8 Pit Bulls believed to be part of a potential statewide dog-fighting ring.\u00a0\u00a0The names of the suspects at the home on Brittania were not released. (See a later seizure information reported below.)<\/p>\n
10 Arrested, 89 Dogs Seized from Interstate Dogfighting Ring<\/strong><\/p>\n
August\u00a0\u00a09, 2021<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Ten people have were arrested and 89 dogs seized in the\u00a0bust\u00a0of what officials called the largest\u00a0dogfighting\u00a0ring in Suffolk County, NY, history,\u00a0\u00a0ABC7 News\u00a0reported<\/a>\u00a0on August \u00a09, 2021, when\u00a081 dogs, primarily pit bulls, were\u00a0seized on Long Island and 8 others in Connecticut.<\/p>\n
District Attorney Tim Sini announced that the operation extended from Long Island to New York City, Connecticut and Massachusetts and credited detectives who infiltrated the ring to bring it down \u201cfrom the inside.\u201d<\/p>\n
“The defendants in this case talked about torturing these animals, talking about how they’ve mistreated their dogs for weeks,” Sini said. Cash, kennels, treadmills that were used in the ring, and steroids were seized.<\/p>\n
A Patch\u00a0article<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0entitled, \u201c’Depraved’ Li Dog Fighting Ring Takedown: DA\u201d\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0and reported that, \u201cMastic resident William \u2018Mr. Bill\u2019 Ashton, known as the \u2018Godfather of Dog Fighting,\u2019”\u00a0was arrested.<\/p>\n
The suspects all pleaded not guilty and denied the charges, claiming they were simply breeders.\u00a0They were released on their own recognizance<\/strong>. They ranged in age from 32 to 74 and their names and locations are listed\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
They\u00a0allegedly bred and sold\u00a0\u00a0puppies descended from dogs who were successful in past fights and were considered to have strong \u201cbloodlines.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were moved to shelters by the ASPCA and are receiving medical care, but because the suspects have not given up their rights as owners, the animals cannot be adopted until that happens or at the end of the criminal case.<\/p>\n
Each of the ten defendants faces a maximum sentence of up to 4 years in prison, a fine of up to $25,000, or both, officials said.<\/p>\n
One defendant faces up to 20 years for additional drug possession charges,\u00a0according<\/a>\u00a0to the\u00a0NY Post.<\/a><\/p>\n
Elizabeth Brandler, Senior Counsel for ASPCA Legal Advocacy & Investigations,\u00a0told<\/a>\u00a0the Post, \u201cThis brutal case involving dozens of victimized animals demonstrates that dogfighting persists in every corner of America, requiring that we remain diligent in our effort to eradicate animal fighting across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Virginia man charged in Maryland with Animal Cruelty after Discovery of Suspected Dog-fighting Arena<\/strong><\/p>\n
Aug 16, 2021\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013\u00a0St. Mary\u2019s County\u00a0State\u2019s Attorney\u2019s Office\u00a0charged Damien Terrell Wilson of Woodbridge, Virginia, with 47 counts of animal cruelty last week,\u00a0according\u00a0to WFXRTV-News.<\/p>\n
St.\u00a0Mary’s County\u00a0sheriff’s deputies said they got a tip about a\u00a0suspected dog-fighting<\/strong>\u00a0arena on a\u00a0power line cut<\/strong>–through\u00a0<\/strong>in\u00a0February, and investigators found 11 Pit Bulls and evidence of dog fighting.\u00a0\u00a0The dogs were given behavioral evaluations and three were euthanized if considered too dangerous, officials told reporters.<\/p>\n
NY Man faces 92 Dog Fighting-Related Charges<\/strong><\/p>\n
August 26, 2021\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013\u00a0A Richmond Hill, NY man faces charges of animal cruelty after he \u201callegedly bred dogs for fighting and kept them under unhealthy and brutal conditions,\u201d\u00a0the Queens Chronicle\u00a0reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz charged Andrew Cato, 59, with a 92-count criminal complaint with aggravated animal cruelty, prohibition of animal fighting and other crimes (detailed description of charges contained in article).<\/p>\n
The DA reported that scars on 27 dogs and dog fighting paraphernalia indicate that Cato allegedly bred dogs for fighting.<\/p>\n
On July 28, the report\u00a0states<\/a>\u00a0that,a\u00a0NYPD Detective responding to neighbors\u2019 complaints about barking dogs and bad smells from Cato\u2019s backyard garage observed 17 pit bull-type dogs in the unventilated space that had the strong smell of animal waste and was infested by flies, according to the DA\u2019s Office.\u201d\u00a0The officer reportedly found another 10 dogs housed in unsanitary concrete enclosures.<\/p>\n
If convicted, Cato faces up to four years in prison.<\/p>\n
Oct 08,<\/strong>\u00a02021<\/strong>\u00a0(update) \u2013 Seven dogs were taken from a home on Grassy Hill Road in Orange on Tuesday when Connecticut State Police discovered a homemade dog-fighting ring and other evidence indicating they were being used in dog fighting, according to Connecticut News12.<\/p>\n
A search warrant stemmed from an investigation into suspected animal cruelty.<\/p>\n
Connecticut State Police said detectives had developed the address based on leads from the dog fighting investigation with the Suffolk County (NY) Police Department.\u00a0\u00a0This investigation followed a raid on July 31 after another dog fighting operation was found in Meriden, where eight dogs were seized.<\/p>\n
Oct. 29, 2021<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Court Gives State Custody of 8 Pit Bulls Seized During Dogfighting Investigation in Meriden<\/strong><\/p>\n
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture said a judge has given the department custody of\u00a0eight pit bulls that were seized in Meriden during an investigation into an alleged multi-state dogfighting ring.<\/a>, NBCConnecticut.News reported.<\/p>\n
A Superior Court judge in Hartford found that the dogs were neglected and cruelly treated and granted ownership of the dogs to the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, according to the department.<\/p>\n
On July 31, Connecticut State Police raided the property at 109 Britannia St. in Meriden and seized the eight dogs, which were in cages in the backyard.\u00a0\u00a0A state animal control officer noted that two of the dogs were too aggressive to be safely removed from their cages and examined.<\/p>\n
An independent animal behaviorist will be requested to evaluate the dogs.<\/p>\n
The NBC report also said the court is considering the department\u2019s petition for custody of seven dogs seized from Orange during a separate investigating into alleged dogfighting.\u00a0(Read more\u00a0here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n
\"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n
WHO PAYS THE COSTS OF \u2018RESCUE\u2019?<\/strong><\/p>\n
The assistance provided by the ASPCA (shown removing dogs in several cases) in\u00a0getting Pit Bulls to local shelters where they can get veterinary care is important,\u00a0but the public needs\u00a0to be aware that the costs of sheltering and caring for, often dozens (or hundreds) of\u00a0confiscated\u00a0animals falls on the local shelter\u2014which will rarely have room for the separate kennels needed to avoid them attacking each other.<\/p>\n
This lack of space and threat of violent incidents in the shelter increase the urgency to get the ownership of the dogs relinquished so that \u201crescuers\u201d can remove them quickly for \u201crehabilitation\u201d and place those deemed \u201cadoptable\u201d into homes and\u00a0unsuspecting\u00a0communities (for an adoption fee) where thousands of human injuries and fatalities are occurring because of the basic unpredictability of this breed\u2014whether or not they have been actually involved in dog fighting.\u00a0 A\u00a0Pit Bull with game genetics is not a \u201cmean\u201d dog,\u00a0but\u00a0a dog bred for battle and unable to control its own hair-trigger reactions.<\/p>\n
The animal-baiting breeds\u00a0used for fighting\u00a0discovered early in their history that they have to \u201ckiss up\u201d to the person who provides food because they were always kept on chains because of their (necessary) aggression.\u00a0\u00a0Losing a fight to a bull or bear was instant death.\u00a0Dog fighters who now advertise freely\u2014and many are in CA\u2014only identify themselves as \u201cbreeders\u201d but allude to the \u201cgameness\u201d and bloodlines of the dog.<\/p>\n
With very few exceptions, Pit Bulls bred from fighting bloodlines should be humanely euthanized for the protection of society and for the dog\u2019s mental and physical safety.\u00a0\u00a0It is not necessary, and untruthful and unrealistic to assure the public a \u201chappy ending\u201d for fighting dogs.\u00a0\u00a0It diminishes the\u00a0painful reality of this heinous activity for the animals and influences lighter sentences for the despicable people involved. \u00a0It makes dog fighting OK\u2014as long as a “rescue” is at the end of the story.<\/p>\n
A life of isolation in a cage is a living death, especially for these high-energy dogs, and being \u201ctransported\u201d to unknown destinations (and perhaps to another American or foreign fighting ring) should not be considered a humane option.\u00a0\u00a0If they are not altered prior to release (and not all shelters have this option within their facility) the dogs can be bred for fighting purposes and repeat the cycle of cruelty<\/p>\n<\/section>\n
\n
ANIMAL WATCH – Our last report on this topic,\u00a0Dog Fighting is Thriving in U.S. – Hundreds of Pit Bulls Seized, was posted on Jun 13, 2021, when\u00a042 pit bulls were seized in a Florida dog-fighting\u00a0ring\u00a0bust.\u00a0\u00a0It didn\u2019t take long for another arrest and the many more to be reported in 2021.<\/p>\n
(Phyllis M. Daugherty is a former City of Los Angeles employee and contributing writer to CityWatch.)<\/em><\/p>\n
Content retrieved from: https:\/\/www.citywatchla.com\/index.php\/cw\/animal-watch\/23044-dog-fighting-in-the-u-s-rescuing-pit-bulls-does-not-mean-they-are-saved<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Department of Justice issued a formal statement by Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert, that a CA federal grand jury \u201creturned a 27-count indictment against Carlos Villasenor, 30, of Placerville, CA, charging\u00a0him with possession of dogs for use in an animal fighting venture.\u201d\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2603,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[19,1],"tags":[],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/InEDC-Pitty.jpg",545,333,false],"thumbnail":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/InEDC-Pitty-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/InEDC-Pitty.jpg",545,333,false],"medium_large":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/InEDC-Pitty.jpg",545,333,false],"large":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/InEDC-Pitty.jpg",545,333,false],"1536x1536":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/InEDC-Pitty.jpg",545,333,false],"2048x2048":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/InEDC-Pitty.jpg",545,333,false],"darknews-slider-full":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/InEDC-Pitty.jpg",545,333,false],"darknews-featured":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/InEDC-Pitty.jpg",545,333,false],"darknews-medium":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/InEDC-Pitty.jpg",545,333,false],"darknews-medium-square":["http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/InEDC-Pitty-350x333.jpg",350,333,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"News MoLo","author_link":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/author\/admin\/"},"category_info":"Crime<\/a> News<\/a>","tag_info":"News","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2600"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2600"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2600\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2604,"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2600\/revisions\/2604"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2603"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2600"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2600"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.newsmolo.com\/EDC\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2600"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}