Pets & Animals

BOULDER CREEK (CBS 5 / BCN) ― Santa Cruz County authorities were still searching Wednesday for a man suspected of the abuse and neglect of dozens of emaciated dogs. As CBS 5 Investigates first reported, the dogs were removed from allegedly filthy and inhumane conditions in a Boulder Creek home.

Santa Cruz County Animal Services conducted a second search at the home of 45-year-old Robert Brunette on Tuesday afternoon after a search warrant was obtained based on evidence collected in an initial search Saturday.

Animal services personnel confiscated two more dogs in the second search, which also led to the discovery of a skull and dog paws on a table at the property.

"It makes my skin crawl," said Tricia Geisreiter, Santa Cruz County animal services coordinator. "The house itself was filthy and the kitchen floor was covered with dog feces. There were dogs living in crates that were chained to the ground. The crates were closed and there was no food or water." 

Saturday, a dead dog was found lying near a lawn chair on the roof of the house, where it appeared that Brunette "hung out," Geisreiter said. They will do a necropsy but the dog may have been there too long for the procedure to provide any results, she said.

The severed head of another dog believed to be dead about a month or so was found hanging in a tree, and five dog skulls were found on the property, she said.

Following up on a call from a neighbor who said he heard "animals crying in pain," Santa Cruz County Animal Services removed 38 dogs from the property located in a remote location in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

"We are pretty sure that (the man) is actually living in the woods behind the house. He occasionally is probably going into the house and back out," Geisreiter said.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office said the remoteness and landscape of the area made it easy for Brunette to hide.

Animal control officials initially went to the property to investigate the neighbor's complaint but were refused access. From the street they saw enough evidence to obtain a search warrant and later returned, but Brunette had fled.

At least a couple of dogs escaped during the initial removal, and the sheriff's office returned to the property on Tuesday to retrieve the remaining dogs.

Geisreiter said investigators were still interviewing people and gathering information to give to the district attorney's office for prosecution.

"We are crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i,'" she said. "We don't want to mess this up. We are all bound and determined to make this one stick."

Newspaper cuttings of ads of dogs for sale were found, leading investigators to believe Brunette was breeding and selling the dogs as purebreds. The dogs were advertised as Cane Corsos, also called Italian mastiffs. The dogs removed were of some mix including Cane Corso, Rottweiler and Labrador retriever.

There are at least three litters of puppies including some just two days old. There are also four-week-old and eight-week-old pups. About 15 or more of the dogs are adults, some believed to be as old as 13 or 14 years old.

Many of the dogs were emaciated and needed veterinary care and medicine.

"It's expensive, but it's better than the alternative," Geisreiter said.

The dogs and puppies are not yet available for adoption because technically they do not belong to the county yet. The dogs are not aggressive but they are very scared and not social, Geisreiter said.

"Clearly they have had little contact with humans."

Once they are deemed county property, the animal shelter will work to find proper homes and care for the dogs.

Authorities asked for anyone with information about the case to call the animal control offices at (831) 454-7303, ext. 1. They also wanted to hear from anyone who may have bought a puppy from Brunette.

Donations to the animal shelter were welcome. Geisreiter said the shelter always needs blankets, dog toys, dog food and dog biscuits.

Monetary donations would help offset the costs incurred for veterinary care and medication, she said.

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