Marty
05-04-2008, 05:12 PM
Nogales,AZ -- (Above) One of 23 dogs peers through his cage at the Santa Cruz Humane Society hours before his euthaization. (Below) Santa Cruz County Animal Control Officer Luis Nido piles another euathanized dog into his pickup yesterday. The dogs were put down in connection with February's dog-fighting sting in Pima County.
By William Wilczewski
Garbage bags and a wheelbarrow was the destination for 23 pit bulls that were held in Santa Cruz County in connection with the alleged dog-fighting and breeding ring that was exposed in Pima County Feb. 19.
A drastic close to this mini-saga ended in the euthanization of the animals yesterday at the Santa Cruz Humane Society, which was taking care of the dogs while Pima County authorities investigate the incident that includes about 150 dogs.
"We were evidence custodians for the state," said SCHS Operations Manager Tony Vel‡squez, "but we were glad to do it."
Vel‡squez said it was initial shock to the goings on at the humane society on Feb. 22, when the dogs were first dropped off, but that it was worth it.
"It slowed us down a bit (at first), but we got in a rhythm," he said. "Then, you get attached to them and they get attached to you."
Now, however, "It's a pit bull holocaust," he said.
It all began in March 2007 when Chicago police stopped a van carrying several fighting dogs. Their investigation developed information leading to Tucson.
Around the same time, the Pima County Sheriff's Department received information from the Humane Society of the United States, which monitors dog-fighting operations.
Investigators tracked dog-fighting Web sites, chat rooms and underground magazines to develop evidence that the dog breeders, two of whom had kennel licenses, were involved in selling dogs for fights.
Authorities also found more than 50 guns and thousands of dollars in cash.
At least six people were arrested in the case, including Emily Dennis, Robert Smith, Terry Williams, Mahlon Patrick, Juan Verdin and his wife, Zenadia Verdin.
A Pima County grand jury indicted the group on 69 felony and misdemeanor counts alleging animal cruelty, dog fighting and failure to obtain licenses. The case is still pending litigation in the Pima County Superior Court.
Authorities say Patrick, who has likely been in the dog-fighting business since the 1970s, is one of the top three fight dog breeders in the nation.
According to Ivonne Lopez, the shelter supervisor at the Pima County Animal Care Center, the 23 dogs held in Santa Cruz County - and the 10 to 20 others euthanized the same day in Pinal County - belonged to either Patrick or Verdin, or both men.
The dogs belonging to Smith are still alive for investigative purposes, she said.
"They should be prosecuted to the max," Vel‡squez said. "It's unfair to the animals when you see what they have to go through. They suffer a lot with injuries and sometimes death."
Regarding the euthanasia procedures, Lopez said they are very humane. The dogs, she explained, are tranquilized before an intravenous injection "puts them to sleep."
That sentiment didn't sit to well with SCHS worker Irma Alvarez, who left the office in tears before the procedure and came back even worse when it was done.
"This is a no-kill shelter, so they shouldn't have euthanized them here," she said, visibly upset. "They did wrong by coming here. They should have taken them somewhere else; not here."
Lopez, however, explained that this option was a last resort after seeking help from rescue agencies within the state and in Georgia and California.
"It's not our fault," she said, "but it's our job ... and we have this sad job because people don't take care of their animals. You also can't blame the animals, but they are the ones suffering because of this."
Vel‡squez said the dogs, whose average age is about a year, arrived at his shelter in excellent condition. He said he doesn't believe any of them had been fought yet, although their fight training was apparent, making it difficult for anyone to adopt the animals.
"They're wonderful animals," he said. "They are great with people. The only problem would be liability if another dog got near them.
"They were trained for fighting and that's what they do," he added. "Can they be trained not to fight? Yes, because they're young ... but sadly, that's not the case here. We're going to miss them greatly."
Asked if there have ever been any organized dog-fighting incidents in Santa Cruz County, Vel‡squez quickly responded, "Not here that I know of, but not that it can't happen."
Each dog that was being cared for in Santa Cruz County was estimated to be worth about $1,000.
Furthermore, authorities estimate that there are about 40,000 people in the United States involved in the world of dog fighting. The Humane Society of the United States rewards up to $5,000 for information on such activities.
(Editor's note: Background information for this article can be contributed to a variety of Southern Arizona news outlets.)
http://www.nogalesinternational.com/articles/2008/05/02/news/news1.txt
By William Wilczewski
Garbage bags and a wheelbarrow was the destination for 23 pit bulls that were held in Santa Cruz County in connection with the alleged dog-fighting and breeding ring that was exposed in Pima County Feb. 19.
A drastic close to this mini-saga ended in the euthanization of the animals yesterday at the Santa Cruz Humane Society, which was taking care of the dogs while Pima County authorities investigate the incident that includes about 150 dogs.
"We were evidence custodians for the state," said SCHS Operations Manager Tony Vel‡squez, "but we were glad to do it."
Vel‡squez said it was initial shock to the goings on at the humane society on Feb. 22, when the dogs were first dropped off, but that it was worth it.
"It slowed us down a bit (at first), but we got in a rhythm," he said. "Then, you get attached to them and they get attached to you."
Now, however, "It's a pit bull holocaust," he said.
It all began in March 2007 when Chicago police stopped a van carrying several fighting dogs. Their investigation developed information leading to Tucson.
Around the same time, the Pima County Sheriff's Department received information from the Humane Society of the United States, which monitors dog-fighting operations.
Investigators tracked dog-fighting Web sites, chat rooms and underground magazines to develop evidence that the dog breeders, two of whom had kennel licenses, were involved in selling dogs for fights.
Authorities also found more than 50 guns and thousands of dollars in cash.
At least six people were arrested in the case, including Emily Dennis, Robert Smith, Terry Williams, Mahlon Patrick, Juan Verdin and his wife, Zenadia Verdin.
A Pima County grand jury indicted the group on 69 felony and misdemeanor counts alleging animal cruelty, dog fighting and failure to obtain licenses. The case is still pending litigation in the Pima County Superior Court.
Authorities say Patrick, who has likely been in the dog-fighting business since the 1970s, is one of the top three fight dog breeders in the nation.
According to Ivonne Lopez, the shelter supervisor at the Pima County Animal Care Center, the 23 dogs held in Santa Cruz County - and the 10 to 20 others euthanized the same day in Pinal County - belonged to either Patrick or Verdin, or both men.
The dogs belonging to Smith are still alive for investigative purposes, she said.
"They should be prosecuted to the max," Vel‡squez said. "It's unfair to the animals when you see what they have to go through. They suffer a lot with injuries and sometimes death."
Regarding the euthanasia procedures, Lopez said they are very humane. The dogs, she explained, are tranquilized before an intravenous injection "puts them to sleep."
That sentiment didn't sit to well with SCHS worker Irma Alvarez, who left the office in tears before the procedure and came back even worse when it was done.
"This is a no-kill shelter, so they shouldn't have euthanized them here," she said, visibly upset. "They did wrong by coming here. They should have taken them somewhere else; not here."
Lopez, however, explained that this option was a last resort after seeking help from rescue agencies within the state and in Georgia and California.
"It's not our fault," she said, "but it's our job ... and we have this sad job because people don't take care of their animals. You also can't blame the animals, but they are the ones suffering because of this."
Vel‡squez said the dogs, whose average age is about a year, arrived at his shelter in excellent condition. He said he doesn't believe any of them had been fought yet, although their fight training was apparent, making it difficult for anyone to adopt the animals.
"They're wonderful animals," he said. "They are great with people. The only problem would be liability if another dog got near them.
"They were trained for fighting and that's what they do," he added. "Can they be trained not to fight? Yes, because they're young ... but sadly, that's not the case here. We're going to miss them greatly."
Asked if there have ever been any organized dog-fighting incidents in Santa Cruz County, Vel‡squez quickly responded, "Not here that I know of, but not that it can't happen."
Each dog that was being cared for in Santa Cruz County was estimated to be worth about $1,000.
Furthermore, authorities estimate that there are about 40,000 people in the United States involved in the world of dog fighting. The Humane Society of the United States rewards up to $5,000 for information on such activities.
(Editor's note: Background information for this article can be contributed to a variety of Southern Arizona news outlets.)
http://www.nogalesinternational.com/articles/2008/05/02/news/news1.txt