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Aug 1, 2008 5:15 pm US/Pacific
Santa Cruz Dog Breeder Denies Bloody Abuse
SANTA CRUZ (CBS 5) ―
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Robert Brunette.
Santa Cruz County Animal Services
A Santa Cruz-area dog breeder accused of abusing and neglecting dozens of dogs at his kennel denied many of the allegations Friday in a phone interview with CBS 5 from jail.
Robert Brunette, 45, was arrested Thursday and faces at least 10 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and neglect and possibly some felonies.
Animal control officers over the past week seized 40 emaciated and diseased dogs from Brunette's rural Boulder Creek property as well as dog skulls, a dead dog found on the roof of his home and a decomposing dog hanging from a tree.
Brunette maintained during the interview that most of his dogs were healthy and were fed regularly.
He contended the dead dogs on his property were poisoned by either neighbors or animal control officers who had been harassing him.
The rescued dogs were taken to local animal shelters were they are being treated and rehabilitated for possible adoption.
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