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

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 14:53 — Arden Allen (Visitor)
After AH dog fighter gets out of the clink he should serve 5 years community service in an animal shelter cleaning kennels and cages, feeding and watering the inmates, doing the laundy, and if he shows any compassion for animals at all, be allowed to walk dogs. About 50 hours a week for five years, minimum. He he fails that, back to jail. No Michael Vick get off easy card....

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 14:53 — Cynthia Floyd (Visitor)
That's it? Only three years? Seems a very small amount of time for all the damage he has done to numerous animals. I'm glad he's being sentenced, but it just doesn't seem right. Some of these dogs may not ever be adoptable and spend the rest of their lives in a cage, and he gets three years!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 14:54 — Joan Cox (Visitor)
When are politicians going to stand up for these animals and demand sentences that mean something, like a mandatory 5 years & up. Makes me disgusted that they think so little of the animals.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 14:55 — ThaClassic (Visitor)
The system punishing the low life scum who abuse animals seems to be improving!! Although it is not nearly enough time!! If I could sentence these criminals I would make them feel the pain they cause these animals and that would be justice. An eye for an eye mentality. Sorry if this offends anyone. As an American I am intitled to my own opinion and you are free to welcome it or disagree.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 14:58 — Kathleen Muster (Visitor)
Ten years minumum for each animal harborded for use in dog fighting. No time off, no probation or parole. AND... they can NEVER own an animal of any kind again. Not even a goldfish! A good beating with a spiked baseball bat would be acceptable too.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 14:59 — dawn (Visitor)
That judge should be ashamed of himself for letting that piece of trash off with such a light sentence. It's just a slap on the wrist like usual. When is the judicial system going to get stricter?

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 15:00 — Katie Baker (Visitor)
I'm sure prisons are filled with dog lovers...good luck Mr. Sanchez. Karma happens.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 15:00 — Brenda DiTrapani (Visitor)
Don't forget the spectators that come to see these blood baths. I think they should be punished as well. Without spectators there would be no reason for fighting animals. Congress needs to pass a bill that is in progress right now to make it a crime to watch or bring a child to watch animals fight. This is time for some serious laws for abusers and spectators alike!!!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 15:09 — Tricia (Visitor)
Dog fighters don't just fight dogs. This is just one of the many crimes they commit including illegal gun ownership, drug trafficking, violence to others and domestic violence. Anyone that sees this as a sport, check their background and I bet you find a long list of offenses. They should be put away forever, just like child predators and offenders that prey on those that can't defend themselves.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 15:21 — Cindy Guarnieri (Visitor)
I am happy to hear that the judge sent this man to prison for running a dog-fighting operation in the Bronx, but it is not nearly enough time he's serving for what he did to helpless, innocent animals. Prison times need to be made more lengthy and should come with the penalty of not owning another dog for a much longer period of time.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 15:22 — Sheri (Visitor)
Why should this guy ever be allowed to own another animal again?

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 15:23 — Bonnie St Hilaire (Visitor)
It's a start, but no where near enough time for purposely inflicting unncessary pain on an animal.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 15:27 — Nelda L. Perciv... (Visitor)
So the man gets 1-3 for dog fighting, 1 for animal cruelty, and 1 for possion of a weapon, that's only 3 -5 years. It should have been more. Animal cruelty alone should pull 3-5 with no parole. AND NO ABILITY TO OWN AN ANIMAL EVER!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 15:28 — Maude Merriman (Visitor)
why doesn't he get banned for life instead of just why he's on parole? I don't get why people like this are even allowed to own animals when they do stuff like this.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 15:30 — carol (Visitor)
the bastard should be hung by his balls ...

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 15:32 — Teresa Gennett (Visitor)
3 years in prison...are NOPT ENUFF for him to learn his lesson..it should be 5 years NO GETTING OUT WITH GOOD BEHAVIOR at all!!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 15:32 — diane (Visitor)
I agree he didn't get enough punishment for his hideous crimes and I hope people treat him the same way a certain football quarterback was treated when he got out of prison. Every team player he played against went out of their way to hurt him on the field. I think most of them would have liked to kill him for what he did to those innocent animal. I think he finally retired after his last concussion or broken bone. I believe MV will rot in hell as well as this piece of trash.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 15:34 — North County Do... (Visitor)
In my opinion, prison time (no matter how long it is) isn't enough. The problem with dog fighting is, it's lucrative. You want to stop dog fighting, take the money out of it. When these people are sentenced, there should be a very very high fine. These people should then work at minimum wage under armed control. They should pay for their own meals and their own lodging within the jail system. They would loose all right to own an animal of any sort ever again under any circumstances and would undergo psychological evaluation and treatment (which they would pay for as well). The money left over would be put against the amount of the fine. Those arrested for observing a dog fight would also suffer large fines and have to work them off the same way. A background search would be performed on convicted individuals and all animals under their control would be removed. On a case by case basis, any children within the family would be evaluated for abuse and dealt with according to the findings. Just my opinion

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 23:13 — Julie (Visitor)
I also agree totally that they should NEVER be allowed to own another animal again. They don't deserve the love that is given by these most loyal creatures. You make a good point when you say they should be fined and pay for their own time... three hots and A cot is not necessarily a big punishment. It's really sad to know people have no regard for these amazing animals. I would literally die for them.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 15:36 — Stitches (Visitor)
I am glad he received jail time but it is just not enough.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 15:37 — Felizld (Visitor)
Punishment to fit the crime for these professional abusers. Give them a year for every animal found, dead or alive in conjunction with the abuse!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 15:41 — olympia bravo (Visitor)
The sentece should be longer than 18 months for animal abuse, that's a real crime.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 15:43 — William Quigley (Visitor)
"He’s also been slapped with a ban on keeping animals for the duration of his parole." He should be banned from keeping animals for life. Once you've made animals fight each other for entertainment, you've crossed a threshold of cruelty from which it is highly unlikely you'll ever return. Let's err on the side of safety and assume that such a sadist will never be reformed. It's more important to protect the victim's rights than the perpetrator's.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 15:44 — Joan Salyer (Visitor)
Well, hopefully, he will get some jail time but I agree it should have been much harsher. What is wrong with these judges who don't give these criminals what they deserve for these awful things they do to these dogs. These people don't deserve to have a life. They don't even think about the pain these dogs are going through so why should any thought be given to them.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 15:51 — Chris Granillo (Visitor)
The general attitude of the perceding comments are CHEERS to the Bronx ASPCA and GEERS to the count system for their weak response. I'll wholeheartedly agree with that much of it. After all the danagerous work that goes into breaking up these dog fighting rings is done and it's put into the hands of the court. It seems the value of thier work is lessened, if not ignore by consistently handing down what appears to be a "slap on the hand" to these people. Rather it's a dog, horse, rabbit, or any other living creature,(humans)this kind of blatant cruelty should dealt with as a very serious crime, not an annyoance. On the average, more prison time is given to someone with a ounce of marijuana than the average dog fighter. More is required to strenghing the laws with a minmum prison time for "anyone" involved with the sales of dog fighting materials, breeding dogs for fighting, training fighting dogs, promoting and/ or witnessing dog fights. As a pitbull and rottweiler owner I am completely dedicated to do anything I can to bring this to the attention of as many people I can and bring this horror to an end...

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 15:54 — Steve LaMarine (Visitor)
Not enough time by half, but the root problem here is that this is a cultural thing: dog fighting, cock fighting, bull fighting are popular in many societies. There needs to be a significant amount of time attached to the first offense, lifetime ban on ownership of any animals, and a maximum sentence without chance of parole for any violation of terms of release the first time. Michael Vick should never have have been allowed to own a dog ever again--and he should have been bannished from pro sports.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:00 — Sick of animal ... (Visitor)
I agree as well. These poor animals suffered for how long as puppies and bait dogs and as fighters. There's so much cruelty that goes along with dog fighting and disgusting. That piece I shit should rot in jail as these poor animals did in his basement and never see light they did Unreal How the sentence is so minimal. What if it was children? It's a living being. Isn't it? The law makers need to wake up

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:02 — Lora McCabe (Visitor)
Nowhere near enough time! It's really just a slap on the wrist.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:03 — Karen Level (Visitor)
I hope this is publicized everywhere.(In my opinion, the sentence should be longer, but this is a start.) The more people who hear about this, the more it might deter this crime. I also think the jerks who view and bet on these fights should be punished severly when caught.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:04 — Mary (Visitor)
I have to say that he should have gotten more time then what he got but it is a start. One thing that should happen to individuals that are charged with this crime is that they should NEVER be allowed to have any animals nor should they be allowed around animals for their duration of their life not just through their probation.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:04 — emily johnson (Visitor)
You people sound like the monster you're talking about. Wanting someone to starve, to fight, to live in their own filth, and then to die? How could you have the cruelty to sentence ANY living thing to that fate? What he did was horrible, and of course there should be serious repercussions that prevent him and others from doing this again, but rage and injustice do not give you the right to act like he did. Violence does not create balance; it creates a dark spiral, and you people disgust me.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:06 — beth (Visitor)
They should have given him 3 years for every dog there.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:07 — Stephanie Costa (Visitor)
That's not hard time, just a walk in the park. That bastard should be caged in with a pack of the very dogs he tortured and trained to fight. We need better laws against animal cruelty!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:11 — Heather14 (Visitor)
That beastly man should have got at least 20 years. Those poor dogs waht they must have suffered. i hope he is never allowed another animal

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:12 — Annabel (Visitor)
3 Years is a joke he will be out before that should be much longer and banned from keeping animals.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:12 — Vanessa (Visitor)
I have read many stories about this so called sport and feel the same as these folks that replied.The people we as a nation elect for office can change the laws and make punishments harsher.If I may also mention, these fights also have other illegal activities associated with them Taking the profit away might help with that.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:15 — Lesley (Visitor)
He should lose the right to own any animal for his life not just for a short time. He should have gotten more time in prison!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:17 — Kathryn Burke (Visitor)
the one good thing that is very much a possibility....there are lots of inmates who love animals and they'll make his life miserable while he's there. pretty much the same way they treat rapists and child molesters.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:20 — Kris (Visitor)
I think they should put him in a ring with a pack of rabid dogs.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:21 — Carolyn Bantz (Visitor)
Such a small sentence will not be a deterrent---They should at least be run consecutively.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:21 — Do Something!!! (Visitor)
Let's remember the ASPCA logo... "WE ARE THEIR VOICE". What strong voices (and hearts) you have!!! As I read all your comments I looked down into my pups eyes and thought No Way is this hateful crime ever going to happen to him. Unfortunately there are so many pups in the ownership of this direct cruelty. PLEASE reach out to these helpless pups!! They need all of us!! They are outnumbered by cruelty. They are scared, starving, in pain, and cannot speak. PLEASE take time, get involved. By your words above, I'm sure you would not be able to hold back if you actually witnessed in person this heinous crime. You would help every single pup without hesitation. Please check out the ASPCA "Fight Animal Cruelty" tab for ways to help. There is Donating (which helps in NUMEROUS ways), Volunteering, Raising Awareness, Lobbying (I have recently began and am amazed how much support is needed). Please call the ASPCA if you not sure where to start 800-628-0028. "WE ARE THEIR VOICE"... Please, Please, Please speak for them!!!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:22 — Mary J. Kareckas (Visitor)
I can't say enough bad things about these imbaciles who inflict so much pain to these wonderful animals. They should get the same punishment that a person doing this to another person would get and more.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:25 — Rausky (Visitor)
This low life excuse of a human being should be sentenced to a concentration camp, and made to do hard labour at least 25 years!! I have NO respect or mercy for these creeps!!!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:27 — A Payne (Visitor)
Not enough time! !!!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:27 — Spanky (Visitor)
Good for you, you rotton person. Have fun in jail. Three years is not enough. Hope it's hell for you.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:33 — Dawn Mello (Visitor)
It makes me sick that a judicial system can give such a lame sentence. The system does not care. Their just dogs in their eyes, but in mine their innocent animals that trust us to do right by them. We shall soon.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:34 — Donna (Visitor)
Should be a mandatory number of years without parole, but this is better than nothing at all. Perhaps these people should be financially responsible for the rehabilitation of the dogs.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:34 — tracey (Visitor)
someone should torture them like they do these poor animals!! 3 years is not enough give him the same sentence as a human!!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:35 — Ann Babenco (Visitor)
I agree that they should serve the same "sentence" they gave the dogs... I often say to people who leave animals in cars on hot days, "Let me lock you in there and run in the store for "just a few items" and see how you feel when I come out".... I have stood and signed complaints against quite a few people in scorching hot parking lots. I even once asked an officer to turn his back so I could break a car window and get the dog out before he died...he never responded, so I decided to face charges myself If I had to break into his car...Turns out the guy finally came out of the store while I was searching my trunk to find something to break the window with. A kind store employee had water, and this knucklehead never responed to numerous pages about his car on the store PA system, and had 2 small children in tow... OH and guess what, he had no drivers license so they hauled him in after having him call someone to pick up the kids and the dog. ARGH...people like this make me sick. All I could think was OMG next he going to leave the children in the car along with the dog!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 16:52 — Amy (Visitor)
You rock!!!!!

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