Pit Bull Dogfighting Compound Raided in LA; 17 Dogs Rescued

LAKE LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Authorities took down an elaborate dogfighting operation in this remote desert community today, rescuing dogs and seizing torturous devices that told the story of the animals' hellish existence.

A team of Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies raided a home and found a bloody fight ring; three treadmills where dogs were tied and forced to run; and a makeshift hospital with surgical tools, IV saline solution, and needles and thread used to stitch up the wounds of injured dogs so they could continue fighting, according to a sheriff's statement.

Los Angeles County Sheriff

Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies raided a home and confiscated 17 dogs, including 13 adult pit bull terriers, in what they say was a dogfighting operation.

Deputies also found a training log book on the dogs and manuals on how to breed and fight the animals. A stash of cocaine was recovered as well.

"It's unbelievable at times that people can do this to animals who are defenseless," Evelina Villa, a spokeswoman for Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control, told AOL News. "It's a very unfortunate situation, we hate to see scenarios like this where people use animals for sport or fight."

The dogs -- 13 adult pit bull terriers, three pit bull terrier puppies and a Chihuahua -- are being held at an undisclosed location and will be evaluated by a veterinarian. Five of the adult dogs had obvious signs of fighting, Villa said.

The puppies and Chihuahua were not believed to have fought, but the outlook for the adults is bleak.

"It's very difficult to rehab the animals because it's hard to turn them into loving pets after such a traumatic experience," Villa said.

Los Angeles County Sheriff

Animal treadmills were found inside a Los Angeles Lake home that allegedly hosted a dogfighting training operation.

Jesse Jimenez, 43, and his wife, Yvette Jimenez, 41, were arrested at the home on suspicion of felony dogfighting and possession of a controlled substance. Their four children, ranging in age from 1 to 14, were taken into protective custody, the statement said.

Authorities said the operation was discovered when an informant called a law enforcement tip line last month to report the activity, which is not uncommon in the remote area known mostly for providing backdrops for Hollywood filmmakers. Portions of the "Terminator" franchise were filmed there, as well as numerous Westerns.

"It's a bunch of old houses and desert," sheriff's Sgt. Craig Husbands told AOL News. "A lot of repos and rentals. A few grocery stores, a dairy and a couple of restaurants, but that's pretty much it."

After observing the home and gathering evidence, deputies obtained a search warrant today. Many of the dogs were tied to stakes in the yard.

The same team of deputies late last year made a smaller-scale dogfighting arrest in the area. In that case, the fighting operation was confined to a garage, where a bloody pen was found. Videotapes were confiscated that showed a suspect cheering on his dog "Cash" in three separate fights where at least one dog was killed.

In that case, Amin Uqdah pleaded guilty last month to dogfighting and spousal abuse.