SALINAS, Calif - Authorities are one step closer to catching the man they say has mutilated at least four puppies. Members of the SPCA and Salinas Police Department were serving a warrant at a house on Pennsylvania Avenue Thursday afternoon in connection with an alleged fake veterinarian.
Click here to see pictures of the dogs, Warning some pictures may be graphic
The SPCA says that Damian Maldonado is representing himself as a licensed Veterinarian and performing ear cropping and tail docking without a license. At this time it is unknown what was recovered at the house but the SPCA believes that Maldonado lives at the home.
Central Coast News knocked on the door and the man who answered the door and said that at one time Maldonado did live in that house but he has not been there in a while.
At least 4 dogs have been recovered after their owners contacted Maldonado to either crop their dog's ears or dock their tails. In one case, a Doberman puppy's illegal surgery was performed in the owner's Salinas living room on a plastic folding table. Maldonado allegedly placed sticks 1 ½ to 2" inside the puppy's ear canal to hold the puppy's ear up, sewed the cuts with fishing line, and wrapped tape directly on the open wounds.
The SPCA for Monterey County originally offered a $1,000 reward in this case but community donations have moved the reward up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Damian Maldonado.
Maldonado is described as a Hispanic adult male, weighing 200-210 lbs, and 5'8" to 5'10" in height. His business card states that he operates "El Cartel Bully Kennels" and provides veterinary medical services. He offers the following services, many of which are illegal without a veterinary license: general consultations, vaccinations, deworming, general surgeries, supplements, accessories, vitamins, artificial insemination, stud services, and puppy sales.
Submitted by Kiki Jones
Damian Maldonado's Business Card
