Patricia Nazario
December 02, 2008
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People who breed and train fighting dogs in Los Angeles County are getting the same tough treatment in court as kidnappers, robbers, and rapists. Animal abuse is a felony offense. KPCC's Patricia Nazario says law enforcement officials want street thugs to get the message.
Patricia Nazario: Since the L.A. Police Department formed its Animal Cruelty Task Force about three years ago it's filed about a hundred felony cases. L.A. City Councilman Tony Cardenas says prosecutors have won almost every one.
Tony Cardenas: So that when people are in prison and they say what are you in for, and they look kinda puzzled and say I'm in for abusing an animal. They put me away for three years. The word's gonna get around.
Nazario: Word started getting around last year. Investigators filed 10 dog fighting counts against Walter Citizen. He accepted a plea deal and helped investigators nail Arnett Counts.
A judge has sentenced Counts to three years in state prison. Lead detective on the case, Susan Brumagin, says police rescued 17 dogs, including four puppies.
Susan Brumagin: All of these dogs exhibited fighting wounds, every single one of them, except for the puppies. Some of the dogs actually still had fresh wounds. Some had recently been stapled shut.
Nazario: Dog fighting is tied to big-stakes illegal gambling. Bets can average $10,000, and investigators say spectators bring along guns and drugs, too. LAPD Chief William Bratton says he's assigned five newly-hired officers and a couple of detectives to the Animal Cruelty Task force.
Chief William Bratton: My anticipation is as we hire the additional 500, we will put more officers into this unit.
Nazario: Law enforcement officials are urging neighbors to dial 911 and to report all instances of dog abuse, especially if they see or hear evidence of violence. People don't have to disclose who they are when they tip off the police.
