Puppy mill - 19 dogs seized
Derby Acres, CA (US)Incident Date: Friday, May 16, 2008
County: Kern
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available
Alleged: Martina Lopez
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Kern County Sheriff's detectives say a possible puppy mill was being operated out of the abandoned home in Derby Acres a small town northwest of Taft.
They say the conditions the dogs were living in, were cruel and inhumane.
Kern County Animal Control officers took away nineteen hot and frightened dogs this afternoon from this boarded-up garage.
Inside it was pitch dark, hot and there was no water or food and it had a putrid smell.
Neighbors discovered the dogs and alerted authorities this morning.
Investigators say the property was abandoned but the garage was being used to house the dogs.
Neighbors say the property is for sale.
The Sheriff's Department says it has identified suspects but no arrests have been made,
They plan to submit this case to the District Attorney's office for possible prosecution of animal-cruelty charges.
Case UpdatesAn arrest has been made in a suspected puppy mill discovered outside of Taft. A Maricopa woman was arrested in connection with this case
Nineteen puppies were found in an abandoned trailer and a garage in the community of Derby Acres last month. Some of the puppies were very small and conditions were very hot when animal rescuers reported the situation to Kern County Sheriff deputies.
29 Eyewitness News checked with Sgt. Martin Downs and he says 45-year-old Martina Lopez has been charged with one count of animal cruelty. Sgt. Downs says Lopez told him she was feeding the dogs, but, he says the puppies were not being adequately cared for.
The case goes to court later this month. As for the puppies, they are in the care of Animal Control until the case is resolved. | Source: Bakersfield Now - June 4, 2008
Update posted on Jun 4, 2008 - 11:01PM |
References« CA State Animal Cruelty Map
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