MASSIVE COCK-FIGHTING RING BUSTED IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX PHOENIX – A cockfighting ring was busted in downtown Phoenix. It was a massive operation likely with a lot of money being thrown around. Police say they found guns and others weapons including some that were being used against the roosters. With downtown Phoenix looming in the distance, 9th Street and Elwood is a dead end and it was just that for more than 50 roosters. It is a cockfighting ring made out of plywood complete with a scoreboard. Police took some pictures after they broke up the ring. Neighbor Saul Ochoa watched from next door. He tells 3TV, “It just got out of control because I guess too many people came by." When officers came by the more than 70 men took off running, leaving their trash and roosters behind. Phoenix Police spokesperson Jon Howard explains, “Some of them were just fleeing the property on foot, others were getting in cars and driving out, and leaving. There were only two officers here at the time so two against 70 they were a little bit outnumbered." Ochoa also says, “The whole crowd just running trying to get out - boom." The 'boom' was the fence coming down as the crowd tore through it. Officer Howard admits, “That's big, anytime we have this kind of activity, it's disturbing, but to see that many people out in one time in the center of the city here is a little alarming." It was the middle of the day and there were crates everywhere and even syringes the men used to shoot antibiotics into the roosters. "These guys put weapons in their hands you know like knives and stuff so it's like they get cut up pretty bad," Ochoa tells 3TV The weapons are steel talons the men would strap to the roosters. "To see that people are torturing and allowing animals to torture each other is really disheartening," say Officer Howard. They fought until death but now the ring has been locked up and a few remaining roosters have been spared. The police officers who broke up the fight actually returned on their own the next day just to make sure the roosters had been taken care of. 3TV was told the Department of Agriculture has picked them up and ICE is now investigating. |
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A couple arrested in connection with an alleged dogfighting ring were sentenced to probation Wednesday morning in Pima County Superior Court. Juan Verdin pleaded guilty to one count of attempted dogfighting while his wife, Zenaida Verdin, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of cruelty to animals. The charge against Juan Verdin was designated a misdemeanor and he was sentenced to 18 months of probation. He is not allowed to own or possess any animals of any sort during that time. Zenaida Verdin was sentenced to six months of unsupervised probation. The images were found as authorities were searching his residence in connection with the dogfighting case. Juan Verdin said that his underage son downloaded the photos and admitted that he failed to supervise him. That sentence was also for 18 months' probation and will run concurrent with the sentence for attempted dogfighting. According to Arizona Daily Star archives, the Verdins were arrested at a property on West Indian Kitchen Road, west of Sahuarita, in February. Pima County sheriff's deputies seized at least 150 dogs during raids, along with $10,000 in cash and more than 60 firearms. The Verdins were indicted along with Mahlon Thatcher Patrick and Emily Elizabeth Dennis — both of whom were acquitted of dogfighting charges last week. |
JUDGE SAYS COUPLE CHARGED WITH DOGFIGHTING NOT GUILTY An Avra Valley couple charged with dog fighting were acquitted by Pima County Superior Court Judge John S. Leonardo Thursday after county prosecutors rested their case. Mahlon Thatcher Patrick and Emily Elizabeth Dennis, both 64, were charged with two counts of dogfighting and 21 counts of animal cruelty. Defense attorneys did not present a case and instead claimed the county had not proved its case. The trial was a "bench" trial in which their is no jury. In February, officials from the Pima Animal Care Center and Pima County Sheriff's Department, along with southern Arizona and national representatives from the Humane Society converged on four sites where 150 dogs were seized, the Citizen previously reported. In addition to Patrick and Dennis, deputies arrested Robert Clayton Smith, 56; Terry Lee Williams, 53; Juan Rudolfo Verdin, 40; and Zenaida Yvonne Verdin, 40. Juan Verdin recently pleaded guilty to attempted dogfighting and his wife Zenaida, pleaded guilty to cruelty to animals. Leonardo is set to sentence them Nov. 26. Smith and Williams are scheduled for a jury trial in February before Judge Michael J. Cruikshank. |
TUCSON PETLAND OWNER DEFENDS HIS STORES AGAINST HUMANE SOCIETY CRITICISM The Humane Society of the United States announced Thursday the results of an 8-month investigation, condemning the practices of several Petland stores across the nation. The society visited 21 of the company's 140 locations, mainly those in Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania, and found the puppies for sale came from puppy mills with deplorable conditions. "These animals are kept in dirty cages, the animals are in poor condition, sometime appearing in need of vet care, some appearing in need of immediate vet care," said Stephanie Shain, director of the society's campaign to stop puppy mills. "The cages are in disrepair with wire flooring so large that their feet are falling through." The most inhumane aspect of the puppy mills, Shain said, may be the time the animals spend in the cages. They are never let out to exercise and rarely experience any human interactions. "These are social animals," she said. "That is one of their most basic needs." Sher said his two stores, one at 405 E. Wetmore Road for four years and the other opening two years ago at 6061 E. Broadway, sell puppies that have stricter requirements and background checks that go beyond other Petland locations. "In our Petlands, the puppies come with a three-year health warranty," he said. "By the time the puppies are eight weeks old, they've had two shots, they've been micro-chipped, they've had three different examinations from three different vets." He also checks out the breeder's USDA license number to make sure it's current, active and has no violations against it. He also expects breeders to supply each puppy with a five-generation pedigree. "Our puppies are happy, healthy, bouncy and clean," he said. "They're socialized from the time they're born to the time they're sold." He said no local breeders have been able to fit his strict requirements and he instead gets his puppies from 30 other states. All of his puppies come with a slew of certificates for free vet visits and other services. "These puppies are the cream of the crop. We do so much due diligence," Sher said. "Sometimes I will use a wholesaler but they must meet the same strict criteria." Neither of Tucson's two other large pet stores, Petco and Petsmart, sell puppies obtained from breeders. They offer adoptions of animals from the Humane Society of Southern Arizona and other rescue organizations. He said he was not surprised the Humane Society of the United States made a blanket statement against all Petlands without even setting foot in his two locations. "I group all fanatics in one flavor," he said. "They only see with their own narrow-minded blinders on." |
EIGHT MONTH INVESTIGATION BY THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES REVEALS NATIONAL PETLAND CHAIN TIED TO LARGE-SCALE PUPPY MILL CRUELTY · When HSUS investigators visited 35 of the large-scale breeding operations linked to Petland stores, they witnessed puppy mills where puppies are factory farmed in large numbers. At many, investigators saw appalling conditions: puppies living in filthy, barren cages reeking of urine, with inadequate care and socialization. · Many of Petland’s puppies are not supplied directly by breeders, but are purchased from a “middle man” -- large-scale “pet distributors,” otherwise known as brokers -- showing that the company may not even know who the breeders are or what their standards of care may be like. The investigation revealed that some of Petland’s brokers are also buying from puppy mills. · Some of Petland’s puppies are ordered online using a pet auction website called the Pet Board of Trade, demonstrating that many Petland stores are not screening breeders as its website claims. In fact, in some cases they may not even know the breeder’s name until after purchase. · One of the most common sales pitches made by Petland staff is that they use “USDA licensed” breeders. However, investigators reviewed publicly available state and USDA inspection reports for more than 100 Petland breeders and found more than 60 percent of the reports listed serious violations of basic animal care regulations. Many USDA breeders exhibit a long history of substandard care and yet remained licensed. While USDA regulations are minimal, some of the Petland breeders are not even complying with these basic animal welfare standards. · Documented USDA violations at some of Petland’s breeders and suppliers included dirty, unkempt enclosures; inadequate shelter from the cold; dogs kept in too-small cages; and inadequate veterinary care. Some of the breeders were found with sick or dead dogs in their cages. Puppy mills are a source of unbearable cruelty where breeding animals are kept in tiny cages without any socialization for the sole purpose of supplying pet stores and the Internet market with puppies. The HSUS urges all of its members and supporters to spread the word about the great suffering associated with these mills, which also contribute to tragic pet overpopulation. |
MAN SEES ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGE IN HORSE BEATING An officer witnessed Gordon Allen Bates drag the horse behind his truck with a strap used for towing vehicles at his home Aug. 4, a Pinal County sheriff's report shows. His 13-year-old daughter also reportedly kicked the animal in the head while yelling at it to get up from the ground, according to the report. Once rescued, the horse was treated for injuries, including the removal of the tow strap that had been embedded in its neck, as well as several scrapes and bruises from being dragged by the vehicle, the report shows. Bates will face a judge Dec. 10 on one charge of animal cruelty, a Class 6 felony, according to county attorney spokesman Kostas Kalaitzidis. Gordon told officers he was beating the animal because it wouldn't obey him, according to the report. The animal was turned over to the state Department of Agriculture. |
MEASURE PROTECTING DOGS WINS 402-373 South Tucson voters approved an initiative Tuesday night to regulate the care and handling of dogs. South Tucson voters backed the Tucson Dog Protection Initiative 402 to 373. The initiative applies to all dogs, but targets those at Tucson Greyhound Park. It makes it illegal to feed dogs raw and diseased meat and to inject dogs with anabolic steroids or other artificial performance-enhancing substances. The initiative also requires that dogs be kept in a minimum-size cage for no more than 18 hours. Greyhound racers often are fed diseased or raw meat, injected with steroids to keep female dogs from going into heat and kept in cages for more than 18 hours. Voters also backed an initiative to eliminate partisan elections, 394 to 312. |
RABIES CASES BRING A CALL TO TREAT PETS A dog tested positive for the disease near the Cochise county line, and a fox was found to be rabid near Catalina, according to a press release from the Pima Animal Care Center. There have been 61 cases of rabies reported in Pima County this year, including 40 bats and 18 skunks, the press release stated. As of Wednesday, 162 cases had been reported statewide. The record for rabies cases in a year in Arizona is 169 animals in 2005. Health officials want to remind people to exercise extreme caution when confronted by an aggressive animal. For more information, call 243-5900 or visit www.pimaanimalcare.org. |
A Tucson couple arrested last year on dogfighting related charges pleaded guilty Wednesday just as their bench trial was scheduled to begin. Juan Verdin pleaded guilty to attempted dog fighting as part of a deal that guarantees he will receive a probationary sentence of no more than three years. If Verdin successfully completes probation, the charge will be designated a misdemeanor. If he violates probation, he could receive up to two years in prison. Verdin admitted he owned 14 pit bulls he intended to use a fighting exhibitions. Zenaida Verdin pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge of cruel to animals and will also receive a term of probation that won’t exceed three years. If she violates her probation, she could be sentenced to up to six months in jail. She acknowledged that she knew a malnourished dog needed medical attention, but she failed to seek it. Because they pleaded guilty, prosecutors agreed to stop civil forfeiture proceedings against the pair so they are no longer in danger of losing their home. The pair will not be allowed to own animals for at least 18 months. After that time period is over, they will have to seek the judge’s permission to own animals. According to Star archives, the Verdins were arrested at a property on West Indian Kitchen Road, west of Sahuarita, in February. According to authorities, deputies began investigating a possible dogfighting ring in March 2007. Officers in Chicago contacted the Pima County Sheriff's Department after they stopped a van carrying several fighting dogs and developed information leading to Tucson. Pima County sheriff's deputies seized at least 150 dogs during raids on Feb. 19, along with $10,000 in cash and more than 60 firearms varying from revolvers to assault-type guns, officials said. The Verdins were indicted along with Mahlon Thatcher Patrick, 63, and Emily Elizabeth Dennis, 63. The Verdins had been facing two counts of dogfighting, 10 counts of animal cruelty and 16 counts of failure to obtain license.
Last week Juan Verdin pleaded guilty to child abuse in another matter. He was indicted on 11 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in May after detectives investigating him for the dogfighting found several images of prepubescent children engaged in sexual acts on his computer. Last week, Verdin told Pima County Superior Court Judge John Leonardo the images were downloaded by an underage son. He pleaded guilty to child abuse, acknowledging that he failed to supervise that son. As a result of that guilty plea, Verdin could be placed on probation or receive up to two years in prison. The Verdins are scheduled to be sentenced next month. |
The children were awarded prize packages that included new iPod Shuffles, tickets to local attractions, gift certificates and apparel. In addition, their artwork will be tranformed into greeting cards that will be sold through the Humane Society and the Advocacy Center. All of the proceeds from these cards will benefit both abused animals and children. The cards will be available in early November. For details, call the Humane Society at (520) 881-7405 or 881-7406. Click here for more about the contest. |
SAFETY & FIRST AID CLASSES FOR CAT AND DOG OWNERS The Humane Society of Southern Arizona is offering ongoing classes to learn basic pet safety and first aid for both cats and dogs living in the southwest desert environment. Developed by veterinarian Michael Lent of Pantano Animal Clinic, the PET SAFETY AND FIRST AID class teaches cat and dog owners what to look for and what to do in the event of an emergency. Additionally, the class covers desert dangers, household dangers, diseases and other dangers to pet animals. The Pet Safety and First Aid class is also ideal for pet sitters, animal foster families, dog day care workers, dog walkers, veterinary technicians or anyone who wants to be prepared for an animal emergency. By enrolling in the 4-hour Pet Safety and First Aid class, pet lovers will be instructed on: |
OCTOBER 21, 2008: HUMANE SOCIETY OFFERS WORKSHOPS FOR KIDS In the EXPLORING ANIMAL COMMUNICATION workshop, teens ages 15 to 17 will learn about animal behavior and communication with HSSA dog trainers. Teen participants will be examining the various ways animals communicate and behave, both in the wild and in our homes. Our studies will include hands-on work with different species, classroom studies, behavior observation and humane training techniques with shelter animals. The EXPLORING ANIMAL COMMUNICATION is scheduled for Sunday, November 9 from 1:30 to 3:30pm. This workshop will be held at HSSA’s Companions for Life Center, 3465 E. Kleindale Rd., Tucson. As with all of our educational children’s programs, these workshops are designed to be an interactive learning experience which requires a high level of participation from the students. Our curriculum will include classroom activities, group projects and hands-on activities. Each workshop is $10 per child and pre-registration is required. Discounts for Hand-In-Paw Kid’s Club members available. Registration deadline is November 5, 2008. To register by phone or for additional information, please contact Pennie Liebig at (520) 881-7406 or by email at pliebig@hssaz.org. Registration materials, additional information and downloads are also available through the Humane Society's website at www.hssaz.org. |
HSSA and SACAC would like to thank Bookman’s Entertainment Exchange, Old Tucson Studios, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and Funtasticks Family Fun Park for their generous donations to the prize packages; Viscount Suite Hotel for donating the food and space for the judging; Mary’s Downtown Flower Market for providing the flower arrangements and the members of the community for their monetary support of the contest. HSSA and SACAC would also like to thank the judges: Amy Eades, President of HSSA; Wilene Lampert, Director of the SACAC; Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik; Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall; renowned local artist Diana Madaras; local anchorperson and host of “Animal Defenders,” Heather Rowe; and Kimberly Clements, President of Golden Eagle Distributors, Inc. For more information regarding the contest or press conference, please contact Marsh Myers at (520) 881-7401 or Inge Koopman-Leyva at (520) 881-7405. |
OCTOBER 1, 2008: NEW STATE LAW ADDS ADDITIONAL PROHIBITIONS TO SELLING ANIMALS ON CURBSIDES HB 2485 amends Arizona Revised Statutes 44-1799, making it illegal in a county with a population of 800,000 persons or more to knowingly sell mammals, reptiles, amphibians or birds on any public highway, street, park or any public property adjacent to these areas. The law also prohibits the sale of animals on private property if the vendor does not have the permission of the property owner. This is a civil offense and can result in a $50 fine for each occasion. The law supplements a similar ban on these types of sales that has been in place for years under Tucson City Code Sec. 4-8 and Pima County Code 6.04.170. The city and county codes also prohibit the sale of animals at swap meets or similar commercial activities. All of the codes have exemptions for the legitimate adoption or sale of animals by humane organizations, rescue groups, county fairs, livestock auctions or 4-H activities. [Visit the LAWS page for more information on local and state ordinances.] If animals being sold improperly have sustained any serious bodily damage or death, the animals can be impounded by law enforcement and the seller arrested under our animal cruelty statutes. The Animal Cruelty Taskforce will be working with local law enforcement to train them on handling these types of situations to ensure the safety of the animals in question and to ensure that the public is not defrauded by unscrupulous persons. The public is alerted that fraud is common in these types of situations, leaving the purchasers of a sick or defective animal with little to no legal recourse once the roadside vendor has disappeared. Lack of animal care, including obtaining spaying and neutering for pets, is also a leading contributor to roadside sales. The taskforce encourages all dog and cat owners to have their animals sterilized in order to prevent unwanted litters of puppies and kittens. Citizens needing this surgery can contact the Animal Welfare Alliance of Southern Arizona’s Spay / Neuter Intervention Project at (520) 271-7252 or the Humane Society of Southern Arizona’s Spay / Neuter Line at (520) 881-0321 for information about low-cost or free surgeries. Those concerned about animals being sold under the above mentioned conditions are encouraged to call 911. |
AUGUST 16, 2008: 3 IN DOGFIGHTING CASE SEEK $4M FROM COUNTY |
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| MAY 3, 2008: DOGFIGHT SUSPECT NOW FACES SEVERAL CHILD PORN COUNTS A man facing charges for his suspected involvement in a Pima County dogfighting organization has been indicted on child pornography charges. Juan Verdin, 40, was indicted on 11 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor under 15, Deputy County Attorney Susan Eazer said Friday. |
FEBRUARY 19, 2008; 150 DOGS SEIZED IN BREEDING, FIGHTING RING; 3 PEOPLE ARRESTED TOP BREEDER BUSTED, UP TO 150 DOGS SEIZED IN DOG-FIGHTING RAID: |
COUPLE GETS PROBATION IN DOG CASE
Juan Verdin was also sentenced on a child-abuse charge, which stems from images of prepubescent children engaged in sexual acts that had been downloaded onto his computer.
TUCSON COUPLE PLEADS GUILTY IN DOGFIGHTING CASE
Patrick and Dennis, who are scheduled to go to trial next month, are each charged with two counts of dogfighting and 21 counts of animal cruelty.
Knowing what is normal for your cat or dog.
OCTOBER 17, 2008: COLORS OF COMPASSION ART CONTEST: WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT PRESS CONFERENCE
The winning submissions will be unveiled during a press conference to be held on October 22nd from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the new offices of the Southern Arizona Children’s Advocacy Center located at 2329 E. Ajo Way, Tucson. The contest judges Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, Wilene Lampert of SACAC and County Attorney Barbara LaWall will speak at the press conference about the importance of animal and child abuse prevention. Pima County Sheriff Department and Tucson Police Department will be in attendance to represent who’s on the front lines in addressing this kind of abuse. The six winners, students of Richardson Elementary, Drexel Elementary, St. Michael’s Parish and Coronado K-8 schools in Tucson, will receive a prize package including an iPod Shuffle and other terrific gifts from local businesses and organizations. 
AUGUST 11, 2008: DOG FOUND IN A CONSTRUCTION SITE DITCH UNDERSCORES THE DANGERS OF OUR SUMMER SUNHome | Education | FAQs | Laws | Links | Reporting | Vets | Send Email
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