SANTA MONICA—On January 26, Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley announced that the Humane Society of the United States (H.S.U.S) paid a reward of $5,000 to a tipster who reported the alleged practice of dogfighting by an Antelope Valley couple.

44-year-old Jesse Jimenez and 41-year-old Yvette Jimenez were initially arrested on March 3, 2011 on suspicion of felony dogfighting and drug possession after the anonymous caller reported the alleged operation to authorities in February 2011. 

A search warrant was conducted at the accused individuals' desert community-based home in Lake Los Angeles, where deputies found 11 adult pit bulls—all with scars and recent injuries—three pit bull terrier puppies and a Chihuahua. 

A female pit bull, who is believed to have given birth to several litters, was found with her teeth hand-filed down to the pulp in order to breed her without causing injury to her partner.  "Guiness," an 11-month old black-and-white pit bull mix, was also rescued during the bust.  His new owner is a Santa Monica resident named Carissa Cole.

Police found further evidence of a dogfighting operation during the crackdown, including manuals on dogfighting and breeding, treadmills, hand-written logs on the animals' training (dating from the mid-1990's), a blood-splattered dogfighting ring and medical equipment to treat the animals' injuries.

Additionally, cocaine was found at the Jimenez residence, along with four children, ages one to 14, who were later taken into protective custody.  The Fund Animals Foundation led rescue efforts for the confiscated animals.  Though the anonymous informant of the alleged crime was eventually honored with a symbolic check, the tipster's name will not be disclosed, as part of H.S.U.S tip line policy.

In a written statement, Cooley said, "It is my hope that anyone who becomes aware of this criminal activity [dogfighting] will use the L.A. County dogfighting tip line to help put these brutal criminals behind bars.  Often, animal fighting is associated with a subculture of violence, gangs, drugs and gambling.  This vile practice will not be tolerated in Los Angeles County."

Jesse Jimenez is slated to serve 365 days of county jail time.  On November 30, 2011, he pleaded no contest to 31 felony counts, including dogfighting, willful animal cruelty and animal neglect; on the same date, co-defendant Yvette Jimenez pleaded no contest to one count of willful animal cruelty and two counts of felony dogfighting.  She received a sentence of three years  of formal probation and restitution, and 274 days of county jail time.

The H.S.U.S. website describes dogfighting as a "sadistic contest in which two dogs—specially bred, conditioned and trained to fight" are made to "fight each other for the spectators' entertainment and gambling."  H.S.U.S. reports that the matches last on average of one to two hours, ending with one of the dogs not continuing to fight or being unable to continue.  Often, the injuries inflicted on the animals are severe, even fatal. 

A video on dogfighting has been uploaded by the H.S.U.S's YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9rVV-PWJSk.

For those who wish to report illegal dogfighting, please call the H.S.U.S. Dogfighting tip line at 1-877-TIP-HSUS (1-877-847-4787).  Callers are assured that they may remain anonymous and may even be awarded up to $5,000 for any helpful information. 

To learn more about the H.S.U.S. campaign to end dogfighting, please visit http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/dogfighting/end_dogfighting.html. 

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