Dogs rescued after arrest of California man accused of performing c-sections in kitchen
Update: ‘It was like an assembly line.’ Police describe ‘heinous’ puppy mill
Original story:
A few loose puppies caught the eye of a woman in Lathrop and prompted an investigation that led to the arrest of a man who was breeding and allegedly performing illegal c-sections on dogs.
The woman spotted English bulldog puppies in the 2000 block of East Louise Avenue in Lathrop on Saturday and found the home from which the puppies escaped, according to Deputy Andrea Lopez of the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office.
The woman called police after she saw two men leave the home wearing what appeared to be bloody rubber gloves, Lopez said.
Deputies responded to the home and quickly discovered that the owner, Pedro Maldonado Victorio, was being investigated by Manteca Animal Services for performing animal surgeries without a license, she said.
The kitchen inside the Lathrop home had been converted into a makeshift operating room, Lopez said. Narcotics were seized and a dozen dogs were rescued, she said.
Search warrants were later executed at multiple locations connected to Victorio in Lathrop and Manteca. The searches turned up more evidence of illegal surgeries, $13,000 in cash, and 18 additional dogs – a mix of English and French bulldogs, Lopez said. The remains of three deceased dogs were also located, she said.
Lopez said Victorio was breeding and selling the dogs. The rescued dogs were living in overcrowded kennels and half required medical treatment, she said.
Victorio was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty, practicing veterinary medicine without a license, and transporting a controlled substance. Lopez did not have information about the other man seen coming out of the house.
Victorio pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Thursday in San Joaquin Superior Court. The prosecution asked for bail of $65,000, but Judge Roy Hashimoto set it at $15,000, the District Attorney’s Office said in a news release. It added that the defendant will have to wear a GPS ankle bracelet.
Police ask anyone who purchased a dog from Victorio or hired him to perform a surgery on their pets to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 209-468-4400 or Manteca Police Department at 209-456-8100.
This story was originally published January 30, 2020 at 3:56 PM.
