Bronx Dog Fighter Sentenced to Hard Time

Monday, February 11, 2013 - 3:30pm
Bronx Dog Fighter Sentenced to Hard Time

The dogs rescued from a Bronx dog fighter’s basement last year are finally getting justice. Raul Sanchez, who pleaded guilty to dog fighting a few weeks ago, is now heading to prison.

Last week a judge sentenced Sanchez to one to three years for animal fighting, one year for animal cruelty and one year for criminal possession of a weapon. (Sanchez will serve these sentences concurrently.)

He’s also been slapped with a ban on keeping animals for the duration of his parole. Sanchez waived his right to appeal.

We hope Sanchez’s sentence serves as a reminder to dog fighters that their crimes against innocent animals carry serious consequences.

Tags: 
Animal Cruelty
Dog Fighting
NYC

Comments

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 14:40 — VPN (Visitor)
Thank you ASPCA for your hard work and dedication to protect our furry friends. I will continue donating money for such efforts.

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 14:45 — Laurie Armer (Visitor)
What hard time? This is too lenient! His parole should make him work to shovel and clean out animal cages, under close supervision of course! But we can hope that he is forced to share a cell and space with a dog lover named Bubba that will show him love lol! And he is not allowed to have any animals while on parole? But after his parole he can go back to it? These people need to be put down.

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 14:54 — Tracy (Visitor)
He should never be able to own ANY pet/animal for the rest of his life, not JUST during his probabtion. What's up with that?

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 15:03 — Trudy (Visitor)
Prison time for this guy is a great start - when they are successful at charging and imprisoning everyone who participates - dog owners, observers, etc. - the end of this horrible activity will be in sight.

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 15:04 — colleen aversa (Visitor)
He should have gotten a year for every dog he afflicted tremendous pain to. This would send a clear message that we will not allow cruelty to animals!

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 15:11 — Robert Ogden (Visitor)
When we pass laws in all states to punish everyone involved in dog fighting at any level, then people won't think it's so cool when they and their friends go to jail for a long time and they lose their kids that they had with them at the fight. This is a sick thing that has been mostly ignored for too long.

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 15:31 — tony rossetti (Visitor)
they should leave this garbage with me for a while. Then we would see how much fight these scumbags really have. The reason these scumbags enjoy watching dogs fight is because they could never fight themseves,now, or when they were growing up. Nothing but balless pieces of sh.......

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 15:32 — Frances (Visitor)
Any person involved in dog fighting should spend no less than 10 years in prison. How many animals died because of these people. How about the people that watch these dogs fight If it were not for them and their thirst for blood these fights would not happen.

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 16:12 — Tanya (Visitor)
Yes, it is a start, but not nearly enough to really discourage this monstrous act. People need to make their voices heard and need to make sure that the people participating in this suffer greatly! Frankly, I wish any that are involved in this vile thing could be dealt with in as harsh a manner as possible....including spectators.

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 16:25 — Lucretia Rossi (Visitor)
One to three years, served concurrently???? While I agree that it's great that he was convicted, this sentence was not nearly enough. He'll be out in about six months. Something has to change with these sentences.

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 16:34 — Judi O (Visitor)
I agree with everyone of you. The sentences are much too lenient. I think the courts lost their credibility when they didn't hang or electrocute Michael Vick!

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 16:35 — Sam (Visitor)
Took them long enough! Thats one down so much more to go!

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 16:39 — Mary Lindsley (Visitor)
Maybe people who fight animals could be sentenced to large fines which would be given to animal shelters in the area where they live. They could also have to do community service at animal shelters where they are very supervised and get mental health counciling.

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 16:54 — Pam (Visitor)
This isnot enough to deter these idiots from doing it again. These so called fines they give them are loose change to them,stricter fines and jail time is needed. also,volunteering at shelters is a great idea!

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 17:06 — rita falk (Visitor)
Jail sentnces the this type of ilk should be much longer. Thd duration of not owning dogs should be never, not just during parole. Parole period is usually short. Perhaps a taste of what these dogs were subjected to should be included.

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 17:51 — Adam (Visitor)
I wish other major cities, like Chicago, were as aggressive at pursuing, capturing, and prosecuting people who engage in dog fighting and animal cruelty/abuse. Unfortunately, the political environment cannot even address the needs of 300 million Americans, so we need to continue to call, email, tweet, or whatever to "encourage" elected officials to act on behalf of all animals who have no "voice". Keep up the effort ASPCA!

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 18:14 — Lucille Bostwick (Visitor)
This is great news for now but not enough jail time. I can't imagine what it would feel like to watch one of these dog fights. You have to be a really cold person to be able to watch one of these fights. The people who run these dog fights are nothing than pieces of crap. So I don't have much to say on their behalf. One day maybe abuse animals will fight back. A eye for a eye!

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 18:55 — Deborah Castro (Visitor)
There is a tremendously huge dog fighting problem down on the border of Mexico and Texas. In these small rural towns it's easy to escape into the desert or into unregulated territories of the Mexican border. We do not have enough manpower and bordercontrol to catch the illegals and the drug trade much less dog fighting. In these small towns the city government attitudes are to turn and look the other way because they don't have the time, money or manpower to pursue dog fighting because it's not cost effective for one thing and the other thing it's considered part of their culture. Pit bulls are bred almost exclusively in this part of the US solely for the business of dog fighting. I have called the ASPCA and the FBI about the issue of dog fighting and mysteriously disappearing pit bulls from the local pounds but since we don't have solid evidence we can't proceed much further than taling on the phone. I wished authorities would take this situation more serious and come down to south Texas and see how many city officials, politicians and police are actually involved or promoting dog fighting by betting or looking the other way.

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 19:05 — Judy Brown (Visitor)
First of all, I wouldn't call his sentence "hard time". People like this hate to be fined. He should have a monetary punishment as well and serve more time! I can just imagine the conditions these poor dogs were living in. I don't know how the ASPCA found out about this creep but I'm sure glad they did. How he got away with hiding 50 dogs in the basement of his building is beyond me. People that do this need to be educated in how to treat animals humanely or they will never stop abusing them. A dog is your very best and most loyal friend. Too bad dog fighters are so ignorant they don't see this. You would think from television they would see some of the touching stories of prisoners and other people that have worked with and learned to love dogs.

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 20:05 — lj (Visitor)
it is not nearly enough time nor a cruel enough punishment, i wish we could allow the dogs that are abused have their turns abusing those who abused them, i dont think these people would think of doing it again, he had a slap on the hand, these animals are so severly abused that it is nearly impossible to get their spirits back and they will allways have a trust issue with humans. i own 2 beautiful blue american pitbulls myself, and i could never imagine harming my children, they love everyone and everything, hell, my females best friend is the neighbors cat, the cat jumps on her back and latches on and my little girl takes off in a full sprint through the yards and the cat loves it, everyday i come home one of them open the front door for me to greet me, when something does nothing but aim to please the hand that feeds them how could anyone do such horiffic things to an animal that is so loyal?

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 20:36 — paul bell (Visitor)
He needs to know that he will be watched upon release and that his ilk will not be tolerated.

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 20:43 — catherine davis (Visitor)
One to three years is NOT good enough but it's a small step in the right direction. Sentences of mandatory five years would be more appropiate and make these people think BEFORE they act stupidly and cruelly towards animals. And five years parole and they can never have another animal in their possession added to the five years and just maybe, they will pay attention.

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 20:56 — bobby (Visitor)
We need to mske sure he serve the full sentence ...I think he should go to jail longer for been a heartless.

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 21:16 — Nancy Adams (Visitor)
What ever time the 'perp' got...it wasn't enough !!!!!

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 21:20 — Paulina (Visitor)
I just hope the day that the punishment is more severe, one year per animal mistreated. That will be 50 years that I dont have to worry about this munster killing dogs.

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 21:37 — Mary (Visitor)
Should have at least been consecutively.

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 21:52 — DeDe (Visitor)
Here's someone who has no regard for another's life. He should be locked up for the rest of his life. It might not reach him to value animal lives but it will send a message to other jerks like him to think twice before comitting an act of animal cruelty.

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 23:18 — tammy (Visitor)
Way less than he deserved...Too bad we are a civilized ppl because I say the punishment should fit the crime.......

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 23:28 — JoAnne Klein (Visitor)
The sentence for Raul Sanchez is nothing more than a gentle tap. This jerk should have gotten one year for EACH dog, plus another year for the other offenses, AND SERVED CONSECUTIVELY!!! NOT CONCURRENTLY!

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 23:50 — S (Visitor)
People that abuse animals are five times more likely to abuse other people.

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 00:04 — virgo (Visitor)
I believe that every ounce of pain suffered by any animal at the hands of these waste of skin 'humans', should be able to be returned to them by the dogs. All of those participating in this cruelty should be locked in a room and the dogs set free against their captors and allowed to seek their own revenge!!

Tue, 02/26/2013 - 15:43 — I Agree... (Visitor)
I can agree with you on this...to make it even better for the lowlifes spray them with some meat spray, you know something that the dogs REALLY like to lick on and turn the happy pooches loose on them. This would include not only the ones who breed and train the dogs for fighting but the spectators as well!

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 01:02 — Jan N. (Visitor)
He should be banned permanently re: animals and pets---since he does so gross cruelty, I would NEVER believe anything he says!

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 03:17 — Rose Lisboa (Visitor)
He should never be allowed to own dogs. We have to work on changing the laws that allow animal abusers to ever own or work with animals.

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 03:24 — A (Visitor)
No. That there has been headway made in the area of enforcement of animal cruelty and fighting laws, the laws themselves have not developed the balance needed to truly discourage many people from participating in either. More laws involving sentences with more impact on perpetrators' lives need to be created, implemented and enforced. The weapons charge was a nice addition to the sentence!

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 03:24 — A (Visitor)
No. That there has been headway made in the area of enforcement of animal cruelty and fighting laws, the laws themselves have not developed the balance needed to truly discourage many people from participating in either. More laws involving sentences with more impact on perpetrators' lives need to be created, implemented and enforced. The weapons charge was a nice addition to the sentence!

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 03:47 — Stee (Visitor)
Needs more time to think about his actions.....

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 06:16 — Sue (Visitor)
Noww he can be the dog and get on all fours and get beat up by those guys who will enjoy his stay. Hope he comes out realizing he is not such a tough man any longer and his butt will be a lot different too. He should get more time, he might get off of the three years down to 1 1/2 for good behavior and this they should not allow. No dogs at all or animals when he gets out for the rest of his life and he can be checked on my animal control and the police too on this matter. Should make him register as to where he is living to keep and eye on him also so he does not do this again. Short story and does not say much at all about the dogs as I had hoped.

Mon, 02/18/2013 - 09:06 — joann ilgenfritz (Visitor)
You are 100 percent correct they should have to register and animal control and the cops should have a special department set aside to keep an eye on these people - but yes registering would alert people in the neighborhood there is an animal abuser in their neighborhood and to keep an eagle eye out - love this idea

Tue, 02/26/2013 - 15:51 — I Agree With Yo... (Visitor)
I agree with you 100%. The time is truly not enough but with him being gang raped for the amount of time that he is in there it would definitely feel like a million years to him. He would have a chance to feel the helplessness that those poor dogs he sent to their deaths and being mangled felt. It would not be long enough as far as I'm concerned but he would be messed when they got through passing him around. He never would want to take a shower again.....not to mention trying to sleep.

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 07:53 — Dawn (Visitor)
I want these sick people to get at least 5 years in prison and never be allow to have any pets. How can we make this happen, so sick of seeing animals neglected, I am calling animal control or unfortunately street team to pick up dead dogs twice a week. My heart is sooo heavy. Not enough of us on the streets who are authorize to take these heartless people down.

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 10:57 — Lourdes Carvall... (Visitor)
It's better than no jail time, but honestly two sentences of a year served concurrently, is nothing compared to the pain Sanchez inflicted in those animals. People are totally insane :( And I think that jail time for those individuals should be much longer.

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 11:02 — Julie Fegley (Visitor)
The punishment doesn't fit the crime. And it never does.

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 11:31 — Wendy Poudrier (Visitor)
First of all, I believe that sentences should be served consecutively and not concurrently and they should be sentenced to a specific time in jail not one to three years. We all know he will probably do a year or less. He should never be allowed to have animals again even after parole. Anyone who does this to animals will most likely do it again and a lot of times, people who abuse animals also abuse or move on to abuse humans.

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 12:50 — chrismorr (Visitor)
Why concurrent sentences ? Why not consecutive ? Basically they are saying that one charge means nothing since there is no extra time given, so either cruelty or possession means nothing at all. And NO question - NO animals again EVER - what is wrong with that judge - "for the length of parole" ? Bahh....

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 13:19 — Marjorie Hass (Visitor)
Much too lenient. He should have gotten around ten years in order to send a message to him and others. He should be banned from owning animals for life.

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 15:06 — Janie (Visitor)
i would like to do to him what he did to those Dogs!.he should also be treated like a pedafile and branded for life!

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 15:12 — Lana DeCarlo (Visitor)
Good for the charges and sentencing. This is why we need a national registry!

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 15:34 — Mary Evans (Visitor)
The only way to do this is to show the criminal justice system that the majority of the people want more time, fines and trouble put on these criminals. The more we speak out locally, and nationally the more attention it gets. I for one do not like the idea of just restricting him to not owning animals while on parole. He should not be allowed to own animals, period. How to enforce is another issue. We have to also think about these dogs now. There are 50 dogs that are given a 2nd chance at life. This should be a celebration for them as well...

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 15:42 — BC (Visitor)
He should get the death sentence!

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