Dirtbag on the lam after dog remains found on property
By Gina Spadafori
July 30, 2008
Disturbing story from the Northern California, of a sick jerk who was breeding and selling Cane Corsos (apparently mixed with Labs and Rotties):
Robert Brunette, 45, of Boulder Creek is wanted for cruelty to animals after they removed 38 emaciated dogs and puppies from his property Saturday finding many locked in small cages without food or water and covered in their own feces and urine.
Brunette, who denied access to the property Friday and fled when authorities returned with a search warrant Saturday, apparently returned to the ramshackled house and left more dog remains. Animal services officers caught two more dogs Tuesday and placed live traps for what they believe are eight more adult dogs roaming the more than 3-acre property in the heavily-wooded remote area near Bear Creek Road.
Brunette was nowhere to be found but they are looking for and believe they have probable cause to arrest him for crimes against animals.
Environmental health officers were also on hand Tuesday surveying the property littered with old vehicles, trash, makeshift pens, feces and dog kennels. Much of the property was also surrounded by an electric fence used to keep the dogs in place.
More details, many graphic, here. Sad to say, we don’t link to many hoarding or animal-cruelty stories because they’re just so common. But this case is something else, cruelty of a Michael Vick level.
Another time when I say “eye for an eye.” I wish we could give him exactly the same treatment as he gave his dogs.
Comment by Lori — July 30, 2008 @ 7:35 am
I can’t think what to say when I read these kinds of cases except “What is wrong with people?”
Comment by slt — July 30, 2008 @ 8:12 am
Reminds me of something I overheard at the gas station while filling up in the Keys last weekend:
A group of young-ish males comparing their big pseudo-Ambulls in the back of their pickups talking about which breeds rake in the big bucks.
“German shepherds. That’s where I’m headed.”
Lookout free world…that’s how it happens…
Comment by Dr Patty Khuly — July 30, 2008 @ 9:26 am
I hope they catch him soon. I have to go hug my dog and cry now.
Comment by C.L.H. — July 30, 2008 @ 3:27 pm
By the way…Boulder Creek is in Santa Cruz County…so this is another example of how well mandatory spay and nueter law is working there.
Comment by eastofeden — July 31, 2008 @ 8:26 am
OK, I just went and scratched everyones ears and decided to cut myself a break for having a bad back and asthma and not getting everyone walked enough this week. Because the worst thing that happens around here to my dogs is they get a little pudgy.
I also noted it was in Santa Cruz and yes it’s an example of how just passing a feel good difficult or impossible to enforce law of any sort is idiotic as it will divert resources away from needed programs and services. I’m certain this jerk lost no sleep over his lack of permits. In this and virtually every scumbag puppy-miller/abuser case or hoarding case there are already plenty of laws and statutes on the books that could/should be used to shut these things down. A very common thread is that “the whatever agency has received complaints before”. Yet apparently nothing happens. My hunch in this case was no one wanted to go deal with the scary armed guy and his scary big dogs last year and besides, he’s out of sight, out of mind right? I know of numerous puppymills in the central valley and also up near Redding which broker and mass produce sickly puppies who have been complained on repeatedly BUT NOTHING HAPPENS, not until it becomes so bad that the media clue in and people are forced to act.
Comment by JenniferJ — July 31, 2008 @ 9:03 am