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Case ID: 664

Classification: Fighting, Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: dog (pit-bull)

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Case #664 Rating: 4.0 out of 5

Dog-fighting - 7 seized
San Jose, CA (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Feb 21, 2002
County: Santa Clara

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 1 files available

Defendant/Suspect: Craig Loren Cox

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

A 28-year-old San Jose man is under arrest for alleged dog-fighting. Animal control officers have rescued seven pit bulls, some of them bruised and bitten, and investigators say the suspect had an elaborate set-up for vicious fights.

Three pit bull puppies were lucky. They were rescued before they were old enough to go into the fighting ring. Four other adult pit bulls were found in a barn at the entrance to San Jose's Alum Rock Park. Police say the barn contained an arena with seating and lights for commercial dog fights.

One of the female adults suffered bites that go into her bones. Yet, before she was sedated -- suffering from intense pain and unable even to walk-- she wagged her tail and greeted her rescuers with docile licks. This was a dog used for fighting, but she was not a fighting dog.

"They use very sweet-natured dogs to train other dogs to fight, because those dogs will not fight back," said Dr. Patricia Latas of the Santa Clara Valley Humane Society. "They're called bait dogs."

Police arrested Craig Loren Cox on two felony charges of animal cruelty. Police say he is the caretaker of the barn where the fights were held, and was in charge of the dogs.

"Some of them were bolted down with tractor chain tires, heavy tow chains, to the floor of the stables," said animal services officer Steven Berard.

One dog had bruises on its hindquarters. Police say it had been chained down so long it developed sores from being forced to sit.

It's been several years since a dog-fighting ring was broken up in San Jose, but animal control officials say that does not mean the fights have not been going on. Animals are often found with injuries typical of commercial dog fights.

This most recent bust was the result of a tip. Police say blood splattered on the wall showed that a fight had just occurred. Any spectators were gone by the time they arrived, but the dogs were still there, silent in their pain.

Case Updates

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