San Bernardino, CA Dog-fighting Court Case Needs Public Outcry

Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino
Attn: Astrid Alfonso
351 North Arrowhead Ave.
San Bernardino, CA 92415

In light of the Michael Vick case, this petition is being created to address a dog-fighting court case that is based out of the San Bernardino County, CA Superior Court system: Case FSB055714. The defendant, Albert Dean Cain, was arrested almost two years ago on charges of dog-fighting. During the search and seizure process, twelve pit bulls and a bunch of training equipment were confiscated from Cain's house. The twelve dogs were taken to the San Bernardino City Animal Shelter, where 11 of the 12 still reside (one was euthanized due to a severe case of mange that it acquired while in Cain's possession).

The case has been drug out for the last 22 months because the defense keeps dragging its feet to buy time. This case has been handed down from one District Attorney to the next (typically the newer lawyers that are just starting) due to its longevity. This has worked in the defense's favor because the continual changing of hands has led to a lack of continuity in the prosecuting the case.

Not too long ago, Cain was taken into federal custody for another crime he was being prosecuted for. We all (we being folks at the shelter) took this to be a very good sign because it seemed that Cain would never have a chance to get his dogs back because he would be put away for a while given the charges he was facing. Unfortunately, Cain has been released because he offered up information on another known felon that law enforcement had been trying to apprehend. Word is that law enforcement may use this case as a bargaining tool (leverage, if you will), which means that Cain may potentially get his dogs back. THIS CANNOT HAPPEN!! These dogs would return to a life very similar to the life of the dogs owned by Vick--one of abuse, neglect, and an eventual cruel death. Could you imagine somebody returning those pits to Vick after knowing what he put them through? That is exactly what SB law enforcement may have in mind.

The dogs came to the shelter with fresh bite wounds on their face, legs, and body; one dog even had a torn ear that has never really healed right. Many are covered in scars, but I feel that mentally they are different dogs then when they first came in. We have been working to rehabilitate them in hopes of getting some of them out of the shelter alive when the case is over. Each dog is different and some still show varying degrees of animal aggression, but they are all sweet dogs that are human-friendly (fighting dogs are trained to never turn on their handlers).

This particular case can also be reviewed on pet-abuse.com and on an article done by a local newspaper:
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_critters26.3fbec3b.html

What we need at this point is outcry from the public: we want to see this man tried and (hopefully) punished to the fullest extent of the law and we dont want this case being used as a plea bargaining tool. This will make it more difficult for law enforcement to use this case as leverage. Witnesses are being called to testify on 10/17/07, when the real part of the trial begins. Please help save these dogs from (1) being used as a bargaining tool and (2) a life a cruelty! Thank you for your time and signatures!