Case Snapshot
Case ID: 16749
Classification: Neglect / Abandonment
Animal: dog (pit-bull)
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Saturday, Oct 30, 2010

County: Yuma

Charges: Misdemeanor, Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available

Alleged: Joseph Moreno

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Another animal cruelty case in Yuma. This time, the animal was in such bad shape, the dog had to be euthanized.

An animal control officer discovered a severely emaciated pitbull chained in the backyard of a home on the 4700 block of 19th Avenue.

The officer initially responded to the scene on Saturday evening in response to calls of a loose dog. Once the officer got to the home, the owners had already confined the dog.

In a release to KSWT News 13, The Humane Society of Yuma says the animal control officer went into the home to make sure the dog was confined. Inside, the officer says he found three confined pitbulls, including the dog that had been at large. Two of the three pitbulls inside the home appeared underweight. The officer then heard a fourth dog in the backyard and went to investigate.

He says he found another dog chained in the backyard, severely emaciated. HSOY says the animal control office called for backup from the Yuma Police Department. YPD officers arrested the owner of the home on two felony and two misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty.

The emaciated pitbull, which was an adult male, weighed just 43.5 lbs. Adult pitbulls should weigh between 70 and 80 lbs. Given the condition of the dog, he was euthanized humane reasons.

Report any and all suspicions of animal cruelty to (928) 782-1621.


Case Updates

Local authorities arrested a Yuma man over the weekend after finding several emaciated dogs at his residence - and one dog had to be put down because of its poor health, said an officer with the Humane Society of Yuma.

Yuma Police Department spokesman Clint Norred said officers arrested Joseph Moreno, 54, of Yuma, on two felony and two misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty after a HSOY animal control officer found emaciated animals on the property.

HSOY Animal Control Sgt. Aaron Acton told the Yuma Sun he responded to calls of a loose dog Saturday evening.

When Acton arrived, he said he found the owners, Joseph and Rose Moreno, had already confined the dog to their residence.

Acton said he entered the house to confirm the dog was confined. While in the house, he found three confined pitbulls, including the dog that had been at large.

Two of the three pitbulls inside the home appeared underweight, prompting concern, Acton said. He heard a fourth dog in the back yard and went to investigate.

There, he said found a severely emaciated pitbull and immediately called the Yuma Police Department (YPD).

Acton said the adult male dog weighed 43.5 lbs.

"He should have been 75 (lbs.) plus," he said. "You could see almost every bone in his body."

"He was very, very, very dehydrated. There was no food or water outside."

Acton said in addition to the lack of food, the dog was in very poor health. At one point when he was in the back yard, Acton said the dog fell over.

"The dog couldn't get up (or) stand on its own," he said.

"Given the condition of the dog, he was euthanized shortly after intake for humane reasons," according to a news release.

Norred said Rose Moreno has potential and identical charges as Joseph Moreno which will be forwarded to the Yuma County attorney for review.

Animal control would like to remind the people of Yuma to please report any and all suspicions of animal cruelty to (928) 782-1621.
Source: Yuma Sun - Nov 1, 2010
Update posted on Nov 4, 2010 - 12:52AM 

References

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