By SANGMIN KIM , The Bakersfield Californian The Tribune Content Agency
Two pit bulls have been seized from a Lebec man who was reported to authorities more than a dozen times this year regarding his dogs allegedly escaping and exhibiting aggressive behavior, according to a search warrant filed in the Kern County Superior Court.
The two pit bulls, named Leroy and Elroy, both 2 years old, are owned by Andrew Angulo, 53, according to court files.
Court records show Kern County Animal Services received about 15 reports that Angulo's dogs were aggressive, biting people or running loose without an owner present. All the incidents occurred since mid-February, records show.
On Feb. 19, Animal Services received a report from a woman saying a neighbor's dogs wandered growling onto her porch, preventing her from leaving her home, the report said. An animal control officer impounded Leroy and Elroy before contacting Angulo and returning the pit bulls with a verbal warning to keep them secured on his property.
The dogs were the subject of another report Animal Services received in March. The dogs allegedly jumped over the enclosure of Angulo's home and surrounded a woman before Elroy reportedly bit her in the back of her leg. Officers impounded Elroy for quarantine and accused Angulo of failing to get the dog a county license and a rabies vaccination, according to the report.
On May 5, Animal Services received another call about loose dogs. An officer secured Leroy and Elroy on Angulo's property and cited him for reportedly failing to get a required rabies vaccination or a county dog license, in addition to alleged nuisance and leash law violations.
The next day, Animal Services received a report of two stray dogs running loose. According to the report, Leroy and Elroy were held at the shelter once caught.
A yard check at Angulo's home was required to redeem his dogs. He passed the test because he showed an officer several areas of the fence line being repaired and holes being filled in.
Angulo was accused again of allowing the dogs to run loose in June. He received a court citation for lack of proper enclosure after he admitted that Leroy and Elroy were still escaping from his property.
A woman reported the two dogs aggressively charging toward her and her child on July 9. Animal Services required a new yard inspection and the installment of an extra defense, such as a kennel or running system, before Angulo could retrieve his dogs.
According to the report, Angulo passed the inspection again as he installed a running system to keep Leroy and Elroy from leaving his property.
On Oct. 31, Animal Services responded to a report of a dog in a trap that Animal Services had previously set up on the caller's property due to several loose dogs intruding to kill their chickens, the report said. Leroy was impounded after Angulo was told that he would need to place a bigger kennel in his yard as the running system he already had was not successful in keeping the pit bulls inside.
Angulo passed the inspection once more in November after he installed the required kennel, according to the report.
Earlier in November, an animal control officer responded to a report of a dog caught in the same trap from the month before. As he was leaving, the officer saw Elroy loose and barking at construction workers, according to the report.
The officer tried to impound him, but Elroy ran back to his home. Angulo was cited for alleged violations of leash law, nuisance and animal care requirements, the report said.
On Dec. 10, Animal Services received a report of Leroy and Elroy being let loose over that weekend with video evidence. The report said Animal Services tried contacting Angulo to inform him about several notices for him to comply with, as well as a notice to seize the two dogs, but the agency was unable to reach him.
Leroy and Elroy were seized from the living room of Angulo's home, according to the report.
Angulo was previously charged with a misdemeanor count of battery on a person in another dog-related altercation Feb. 21.
According to court records, Mark Kube, the victim, said he thought he was going to be bitten by a dog. Kube then threw an "unknown item" at the dog.
Seeing this, Angulo approached Kube and asked why he threw the object at his dog. Angulo then punched Kube in the face, according to court records. Kube said he felt pain in his neck and dizziness as a result.
An arrest warrant was issued for Angulo on March 28. He was cited and released from the Kern County Sheriff's Office in July, and once more in October, but he failed to appear in court for his hearing both times.