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

Wed, 02/13/2013 - 20:01 — Therese Camillone (Visitor)
It's a start but not nearly enough time; he'll be out in 18 months, probably less.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:09 — Shelley Wilcox (Visitor)
Exactly my thought, he most likely will get out with much less time than he was sentenced with.. how can we get the time to stick. They need mandatory sentencing. What needs to be done to make this happen?

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 14:34 — Carole Thomas (Visitor)
I couldn't agree more! The punishment for dog fighting and animal cruelty needs to be harsher! Give these heartless people at least a couple years.

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 10:14 — JOANNE RODRIGUEZ (Visitor)
Yes, I agree the punishment should be harsher. They are living creatures that depend on us to speak out for them. They are loyal and unconditional, if they are taken care of properly.

Tue, 02/19/2013 - 13:27 — david smiddy (Visitor)
i think the people who mistreat animals should be treated the way that they treated the animals.i would volunteer to be the one to give them thier due.

Tue, 02/19/2013 - 20:07 — cindy (Visitor)
i could not agree more. the abusers should be treated the same way they treated the animals. we need harsher punishment

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 14:52 — Tori (Visitor)
I couldn't agree more but they should get at least 40 years in prison without bail so they can learn their lesson. This sickens me. I hate dog fighters and these dogs deserve justice. Come on make it happen!

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 18:16 — Shanna (Visitor)
I completely agree that there should be no bails. If this guy gets out on bail, other animal abusers weill see that and think "Oh, he wasn't punished too badly. So, there is no punishment for me either". This is NOT right!

Wed, 03/13/2013 - 18:46 — Amanda (Visitor)
That is a very good point that if another animal abuser sees that other animal abusers don't get much of a punishment, they will know that they won't get much punishment either. Animals definitely need more justice. This is NOT right at all.

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 16:47 — Catherine Kaylo... (Visitor)
This is a good start ... as long as they serve their COMPLETE sentence ... but I agree ... it needs to be harsher ... they NEED to be taught a LESSON !!!!

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 16:49 — Catherine Kaylo... (Visitor)
This is a good start ... as long as they serve their COMPLETE sentence ... but I agree ... it needs to be harsher ... they NEED to be taught a LESSON !!!!

Mon, 02/18/2013 - 10:11 — mary barber (Visitor)
and then, don't let them come out of prison to be idolized as a pro ballplayer again. vick's busted image should have stuck!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 17:47 — Jill Deem (Visitor)
The sentence is much too lenient. I also would like to know how to push for tougher mandatory sentences.

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 22:03 — Sharon K (Visitor)
ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND??? I can guess by your comment that you either do not own or ever have own a dog!!! All they want is to be LOVED NOT HATED and ABUSED. That CREEP should have gotten a year in jail for every dog he abused in that apartment basement!!

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 00:59 — NANCY SPAINHOUR (Visitor)
I BELIEVE YOU MISREAD THE COMMENT. THEY WERE SAYING THE PUNISHMENT WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH.

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 13:33 — Tracey (Visitor)
I agree with you, he should have a year for each dog that was abused... they don't want to fight but they were made to. Thats how they get there bad name, Poor dogs they are such good dogs when you just give them LOVE.

Mon, 02/18/2013 - 15:24 — elaine (Visitor)
I agree-you can teach any dog to be mean. My husband and I have an American bull terrier who is loved by our neighbors. Our landlord came by the other day and told us that she can't have "pit bulls" on the property or she can't get insurance. We were told to get rid of the dog or we would have to move-guess which option we took-find a new landlord

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 17:36 — LeAnn Walters (Visitor)
You didn't the comment. They said the sentence was too lenient!

Mon, 02/18/2013 - 18:06 — marie (Visitor)
I totally agree- the sentence should have been at minimum 1 yr for every dog he had in his possession at the time of his arrest- we can always hope- if he does any jail time- his cell mates will use him for BAIT

Fri, 02/22/2013 - 06:30 — Kirby's Mom (Visitor)
Totally agree with you!!! The creep should have gotten a sentence for every dog that was abused.We need tougher laws to proctect these innoccent animals.

Sat, 03/16/2013 - 11:24 — Nancy (Visitor)
I agree but it should be 2 years for every abused dog

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 08:47 — Jennifer Maerz (Visitor)
It’s a joke that he’s will only be punished for 18 months. He should be sentenced separately for each animal he abused.

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 12:14 — dionne (Visitor)
Now you are talking! That is a great idea, and as far as serving time, I think the sentences should be served back to back for each count!

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 13:38 — Marissa T (Visitor)
It's good that this criminal was punished but the severity of his punishment nowhere near equates to the severity of his crimes ! He committed multiple crimes against innocent animals, was convicted of multiple crimes against innocent animals, yet he will be allowed to serve those lenient sentences concurrently ??? He should be punished for each animal he abused separately !!!

Tue, 02/19/2013 - 16:18 — Pamela (Visitor)
Why should the sentence for animal abuse be any different? This man needs to be sentenced for each and every animal he abused, not just for the act in and of itself. He also should not be allowed bail. The only way this will ever end is to mandate that the sentences be served in full to deter others from doing the same horrible acts against these poor animals that cannot defend themselves!

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 15:26 — Deb (Visitor)
Not only should he be given a longer sentence, but also all the people who like to watch and bet on dogfighting should be harshly punished.

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 20:26 — Chris (Visitor)
I agree it should be sentenced for every dog they had abused separately

Tue, 02/19/2013 - 14:14 — M (Visitor)
I agree that he will not do nearly enough jail time and that each count should be judged and served separately. He should've been sentenced to CONSECUTIVE sentences, that way he'd actually do some real time for the heineous nature of the crimes. All we can hope is that in jail he's forced to fight for his life then severely punished when he loses!

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 22:28 — Sara (Visitor)
They do need mandatory sentencing time, but they also need a rehabilitation program. These people need to realize what they do to these animals. They need to start seeing these amazing dogs the way we see them and see what an atrocious act they actually committed. Otherwise, what is prison time actually do for them? Putting them away until they can get out and start all over again? That just seems like a waste of the system's time and money. I also think a year in jail for animal cruelty is an incredibly small amount of time for the pain these animals go through. Animal cruelty needs to be taken more seriously in this country, with more at stake than a year in prison.

Mon, 02/18/2013 - 12:42 — Connie J. Sobolewski (Visitor)
I agree, sentencing should be much longer and should be banned from having dogs EVER AGAIN! They are killers however you look at it!

Wed, 02/20/2013 - 07:07 — Doglover369 (Visitor)
Unfortunately, there is not a lot we can do because the choice is from the judge.

Tue, 03/05/2013 - 15:06 — Frances Penoyer (Visitor)
The only way to get it where they have to serve all their time is we all have to stand together and ask our government to make all animal cruelty cases a state crime because in stte jail its day to day with NO early release at all.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:18 — Alisha Youmans (Visitor)
He should have gotten murder or attempted murder. 3 years is not enough.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:54 — Rohan Mani (Visitor)
he should have gotten at least 15 years. 3 years is a joke he will do less than 12 months and get out and start fighting dogs again.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 13:32 — scarletdove (Visitor)
When our courts start dishing out tougher sentences, 15+ years, that may be a deterrent. This fighting ring was probably move to continue the profit making slaughter. Law must change to allow courts to hand down long sentences. No wonder we have so much crime, diminishing death penalty and plea bargaining and a WH that disrespects law.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 12:48 — Mei (Visitor)
My thoughts exactly he should Atleast get 8 or more. These babies deserve justice !!!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 14:39 — marie (Visitor)
i agree with you.this is not enough time for what he did to these poor babies.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:35 — ANGELA (Visitor)
My husband and I both agree that anyone who kills/harms animals should be treated as if they killed/harmed a human. My animals are my life and if someone hurt them I WOULD be the one in prison for killing the person that hurt my babies.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:48 — Naila M Sanchez (Visitor)
Treat as murder... because it is!!!

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 20:30 — HOLLY GRANT (Visitor)
IT IS MURDER!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 20:15 — stephen (Visitor)
Pity the fool that harms my pets. I'll go to jail/prison to defend them.

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 03:02 — Mandy Skinner (Visitor)
What is the problem here? Why does it take an act of congress (haha right) to get things done properly. It is rediculous! Damn the dog fighters they don't deserve anything good in their lives. I loath them.

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 03:14 — Mandy Skinner (Visitor)
I loathe the fact that I am so angry I can't type too!! These monsters affect our lives trying to survive and having to stop and fight this BS all the time. When will humans just Not Do these evil, absurd acts toward the precious and amazing animals we are so fortunate to share this planet with?! HARSHER PENALTIES so that the Message to the lax Society is that the animals actually really suffer! Why with so many of us against these atrocities barely anything gets supported?? This is our government not helping much! It's insane. Also, I vote Special jails so that these monsters have to fight among each other for their food, to the death!

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 10:57 — D Grace (Visitor)
These monsters need much HARSHER PENALTIES AND TIME. I agree, let them fight for there food the way they made these precious animals fight. ALL PEOPLE need to relize that these beautiful animals have feelings and feel just as humans do!!!! Actually we can learn how to love from them!!!! People don't stop advocating for the speechless, they need us!!

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 18:50 — Rose Maxwell (Visitor)
I think anyone that puts a huge collar and a 50 - 100 lb chain on a dog and leaves him outside should be his punishment then let two men off at a time and force them to fight to the death. The winner gets to back on the chain, and continue to be forced to fight till he loses. Then when he can no longer win, take him out and put him in another cage and starve to death, or more commonly shot to death.

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 18:58 — Nancy in Chitown (Visitor)
I agree with you wholeheartedly! Or perhaps we can use these monsters as test subjects for new medical drugs instead of using test animals/mice!

Sun, 02/17/2013 - 02:31 — Paula (Visitor)
The punishment should be harsher and longer. I cannot believe that anyone who would abuse innocent animals wouldn't also abuse innocent children as well. And they would probably beat a woman too. They are sick and savaged people. We should not have to live with them and our animals need protection.

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 08:21 — Marta (Visitor)
I'm with you : ))

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 08:48 — Jolene (Visitor)
They should have more aggressive punishment! Also, cut the their household assistance so it affects the whole entire family ( something they may care about)

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 08:58 — Carl (Visitor)
I'm with Angela and husband. I'm semi-retired and when I do stop work, I've had a fantasy of spending time in Central/South America or Africa tracking and killing poachers.

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