Fighting dogs seized in Santa Paula raid
Police seize 16 fighting dogs
Santa Paula police seized 16 dogs from a home in 500 block of North 14th Street on March 11, after receiving a report that four or five dogs were fighting in the backyard. Authorities separated the dogs and called Ventura County animal control for backup. No one was home at the time of the raid.
Evidence of fight training
Police suspected dogs were being bred and trained for dog fighting. 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.
Severely injured dogs taken to animal rescue
The dogs, most of them pit bulls, including two that were severely injured, were taken to the Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center where they are being cared for. According to the rescue group the most severely injured was a nursing mother, who underwent surgery for shock caused by blood loss.
Suspect Arrested
The resident identified as Silvano Moses Duran, 28, was arrested later that day. He denied any wrongdoing. Duran had 10 days to request a hearing contesting the seizure of the dogs. After that, investigators can pursue animal cruelty charges.
Legal Defenses that apply to dog fighting
If you are arrested in violation of California’s search and seizure laws, your charges may be dismissed. If prosecutors can’t prove that you intentionally trained or caused your dog to participate in a dogfight, your charges may be dismissed. If the dog is not licensed, it may be difficult to prove that you “owned, possessed, kept, trained or caused” a dog to participate in a dogfight.
Penalties
If you are convicted of this offense it is a felony punishable by jail time and fines. Dog fighting falls under the broad category of animal cruelty and is specifically prohibited under Penal Code 597.5 PC. Anyone who owns, trains or causes a dog to participate in a or even attends a dogfight is in violation this law. For questions about California’s dogfighting laws, or to discuss your case confidentially with one of our Los Aneles criminal defense attorneys, do not hesitate to contact the Law Offices of Daniel R. Perlman.
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