TURLOCK, Calif. — More than 70 dogs were rescued from “deplorable and inhumane” conditions Friday, according to the Turlock Police Department.
Police say 46-year-old Jorge Ayala is a suspect in an animal cruelty and possible dog fighting investigation which began early last month. His location is unknown at this time. Three homes were searched in the 400 block of S. 1st Street after Turlock Animal Services expressed concerns about the area, according to police.
Turlock police spokesperson Dominique Sanchez said Animal Services received suspicious calls related to vicious dogs, dog bites and sick and injured dogs in the area. She said eventually a delivery driver spotting an injured dog on a tether prompted a police response and a closer look.
In the three homes, 10 dogs were found tethered in yards and a total of 73 dogs, including pregnant ones, were taken to the shelter for check ups and care.
“Those were just the dogs that we just could visibly see from the outside,” said Sanchez. “We were anticipating no more than 15 and so going into the house and seeing crates on crates on crates of these dogs, multiple dogs in a crate, we were just astonished.”
Photos from the Turlock Police Department show the conditions the dogs were in below.
Photos: 73 dogs rescued from suspected animal abuse, dog fighting at Turlock home
“As soon as you walk into the residence, you are just hit with an aroma of urine. Just the smell was horrendous. It was something that none of us have ever smelled before. How these animals were living in this condition, I don't know. It's just inhumane,” said Sanchez.
She said there were crates stacked on top of crates of dogs in the bedroom, kitchen and bathroom.
“It was truly horrific to see what these poor animals have been through,” Sanchez said.
Due to the new dogs, Turlock Police Animal Services is not accepting any owner surrenders until further notice.
Police and animal services are asking the public to help them home 10 dogs who are in the shelter and not part of this rescue. All fees will be waived to those willing to adopt or take these dogs to rescues.
“If any rescues want to step up and take these dogs out of our hands, it would just be such a tremendous help, it would free up some space for these dogs that we had to take in,” said Sanchez.
No other information is known at this time, but police encourage anyone with information about this case and Ayala's whereabouts to call them at 209-668-6570.
