CA: Santa Paula police seize 16 dogs, suspect they were being trained for dog fighting

Santa Paula police seized 16 dogs from a home Tuesday and suspect they were being bred and trained for dog fighting, officials said.

The dogs, including two that were severely injured, were taken to the Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center. No arrests were made Tuesday, police said.

A Santa Paula animal control officer was sent about 9 a.m. Tuesday to a home in the 500 block of North 14th Street after receiving a report that four or five dogs were fighting in the backyard, police said. The officer separated the dogs and called for more police help.

Officers, with help from Ventura County Animal Control and the Humane Society, removed 16 dogs, mostly pit bulls, from the property, police said.

Four dogs were puppies, two were English bulldogs and one was a Boston terrier. One of the severely injured dogs was a nursing mother.

Authorities said they found evidence of dog breeding and fight training, including an agitator stick, and cropped ears, clipped tails, and healing and new wounds on the dogs.

No one was home at the time, but the property owner later went to the police station and denied any wrongdoing. The investigation is continuing.

The owner has 10 days to request a hearing contesting the seizure of the dogs. After that, investigators can pursue animal cruelty charges.

John Brockus, a spokesman for the rescue center, said there were several violations at the home, including an excess of animals and licensing violations. It was also clear that some of the dogs’ ears were not clipped by a professional.

“All of the dogs were seized for their welfare,” Brockus said.

“We walked to the backyard and the smell nearly knocked us over,” he said. “There was so much blood, it looked like something had been slaughtered back there.”

Brockus said the dogs had signs of previous injuries, and the noise and smell should have caused alarm before, even though nothing had been reported before Tuesday.

“There is no way that neighbors didn’t know this was occurring. We need more people to step up and call us when they see or hear something.”

Volunteers washed off the dogs Tuesday afternoon as veterinarian Susan Rogders disinfected wounds and gave the dogs pain medication.


Photo by Anthony Plascencia, Ventura County Star
ANTHONY PLASCENCIA/THE STAR Levi Patterson, of the Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center, bathes a pit bull Tuesday. The dog was among 16 found at a home in the 500 block of North 14th Street in Santa Paula.

All of the animals were dehydrated, and many had bite and puncture wounds. One dog had a chipped tooth extracted, Rogders said.

“All of them were covered in dry fecal matter and blood,” she said.

Volunteers at the center said almost all the dogs were friendly. All of them were lying subdued in their cages. Some had red eyes, and some were shaking.

“It’s chillout time now,” Brockus said. “They can be great dogs depending on how they are handled from here on out. This will be a turning point.”

He said breeders often cage dogs close to each other to foster aggression that is useful in fighting, but the 16 were not aggressive toward animal control officers and shelter volunteers.

Regina Wilcox, the veterinary liaison for the rescue center, said the two severely injured dogs were taken to a veterinary hospital in Ventura for surgery. All of the dogs are expected to survive, and shelter officials hope they will eventually be adopted out.

The no-kill shelter contracts with Santa Paula to take in all dogs seized by city animal control officers.

Wilcox said the shelter tries to educate people on the dangers and cruelty of dog fighting.

“We live in a community where dog fighting, cock fighting are pretty normal,” she said. “It’s a violent way of thinking and a violent way of life and it’s something we try to educate against.

On the Net: Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center - Home


By Cindy Von Quednow
Posted March 11, 2014 at 12:21 p.m., updated March 11, 2014 at 4:45 p.m
Santa Paula police seize 16 dogs, suspect they were being trained for dog fighting Ventura County Star