Negligent Dog Owner Gets Jail Time

Los Angeles: The Animal Cruelty Task Force successfully investigated and prosecuted a man for animal cruelty that led to the death of his dog.

Jaime Villagran was convicted of one count of Animal Cruelty and was sentenced to three years of probation and will serve 30 days in jail. Villagran was also ordered to attend 24 hours of animal abuse counseling.

In April 2006, Villagran's dog was brought to the South Los Angeles Animal Care and Control Center. The Center's veterinarian examined the dog and diagnosed it with severe mange and ringworm. The mange was so severe that the majority of the dog's hair had fallen out. The severity of the dog's condition was brought to the attention of the Animal Cruelty Task Force.

An investigation into the care and treatment of Villagran's dog was completed by the Animal Cruelty Task Force. The case was then turned over to the City Attorney's Office. Due to the thorough investigation of the Task Force and the successful prosecution by the City Attorney Office, Villagran was found guilty. Villagran is scheduled to surrender to authorities to begin his sentence on January 9, 2007.

The Animal Cruelty Task Force is a joint partnership between the Department of Animal Services, Los Angeles Police Department and the City Attorney's Office.  Their goal is to fight animal cruelty and neglect in the City of Los Angeles.

Comments

[Jim Reed]

Some how I do not understand. If you eat dog food, the City of Los Angeles will pay you over $2 million. However, if you abuse a dog, the City Attorney will spend countless thousands of dollars to prosecute you so you have to spend 27 minutes in County lock up run by Sheriff Moonbeam. No way this person will spend 30 days in lock up when Sheriff Moonbeam can not keep the real bad persons locked up on felonies.

I hope the dog recovered and is doing well.

[ExoticSarah Street Team]

He should do prison time.

[MyCousin]

They should feed dog food to the mutts in the LA County Jail.

What a waste of resources! A task force for animal crimes.

Hey Chief, once we get enough Detectives that can properly address crimes against humans, then MAYBE we should devote some personnel to a unit that investigates victimless crimes.

What a farce......

[Kat]

Obviously Jim Reed only read what he wanted to read - The dog is dead! This post has nothing to do with dog food. I hope Tennie Pierce never sees a dime. He dished it out, but couldn't handle anyone doing it to him. It's a firehouse, and it has been going on for years. Instead of "Big Dog", his name should be "Big Wuss". For once, I was content with Villagarosa's decision.

[Loves LA LEOs]

I find Jim Reed's post offensive for other reasons.

[Marissa]

You guys are jerks! NYC has a section for animal crimes! Anyone mistreating animals killing them ect should be prosicuted as well. I volunteer at animal shelters and help rehabilitate them we are working for strickter laws against abusers and jerks like you that make it hard.

Animals need a voice and it is FAR from a waste of money!

[Marissa]

Oh by the way congratulations and thank you LAPD for helping out abused animal and giving some hope of rescuing them. Animal cruelty should be taken seriously and any cowardly punk who abuses animals and their innocence should be prosicuted to the full extent. NYC takes that department very seriously and has some very passonate officers working that. You can see them on animal planet.

[Anne]

Ok I'm all for prosecuting crimes against animals, but we're not treating our inmates in the LA County Jail system any better. So it's okay to treat humans cruelly but it's against the law to mistreat a dog?

Nothing scares me more than the thought of ending up in the hellhole of the LA County Jail system. Diabetics and the mentally ill routinely are denied access to their medications. If this was going on in the LA Animal Shelter system, it would be all over the news. I guarantee you that dog is now getting better medical care than his owner. While I have no sympathy for an animal abuser, I still hope the guy doesn't die during his 30 days in the County Jail.

[marissa]

I hope he does'nt die either! Who said they hoped he did? Can you imagine how cruel it would be for noth animal and human to feed the inmates "dog food" like Mycousin said. Wouldn't that be soothing to know a family member was in the county jail and knowing some loose canon in charge like my cousin saw them as a "mutt" who should be fed dog food.

The L.A county jail is HELL on earth and nobody cares if your dying in there besides being haunted by tortured souls who have passed,commited suicide and the worst energy ever It is a horrible place with abusive staff and I'm not LE but on that side of the law so if anyhting I support LE and anyone in these positions. County jail is rediculous.People die in there often.I also know for a fact it has been under investigation several times. Inmates not receiving their medication is nothing compared to other stuff.

[One Unique Love]

Miss Anne, get real. First of all, most of the really hard core criminals, serial killers, and the like began as children abusing animals, before moving up to human beings. Your poor lil homeboys starve pits and rots to make them more vicious in fights. When they break out and roam the neighborhood for food, they attack little kids and smaller animals. Lil dimwits like you are feeding inmates enough money through the cashiers at LA County Jail in one day to feed a third world country for a year. Instead of bettering your own lives and your children's, you waste your time in visiting rooms being played by thugs. Mental health care is readily available to your homies, but they refuse it because they don't want to "wear a dress" (they have to wear a hospital gown to be treated.)Quit setting yourself up for victimhood. This world is NOT going to the dogs; four legged or two legged. Get with the program.

[Jeff]

Marissa & Anne,

Many reading this probably won't get it, especially those who swing to the left, but let me just simply say, if you don't commit crimes you won't ever have to worry about doing time in the County jail. Actually, if they really would make it "Hell" then maybe the individuals who do time there will think twice about doing something when they get out that has the potential to send them back.

And if I had a family member who was doing time there my thought would be, "Stupid you for doing what you did to be sent there! You play, you pay!"

[marissa]

Jeff,what the heck are you addressing me for? I came on here talking about animals.The kind with four legs.

I was talking about some severe abuse that has gone. Some people may end up in there on night for a misdmenaor ect.......that is not called for sadist abuse! I was not agreeing with criminals behavior or justifying so don't address me again MISTER MAN!

Talk to the hand or talk to Anne