Fidel Benavides Arrested for Animal Cruelty
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Aug 27, 2009, 0 Comments
On Wednesday August 18, 2009 an anonymous report of animal cruelty was given to Animal Control Division officers who went to 3500 S. Milmo. There they witnessed a pit bull with recently trimmed ears. The animal looked mistreated and the surgery infected. The officers summoned the help of LPD investigators who interviewed the owner of the dog who stated that a man named Fidel had performed the ear surgery at a home. Upon further investigation the man who had performed the surgery was identified as Fidel Benavides, age 52, who had been employed as a veterinarian’s assistant at a local vet’s office. The investigator went to Benavides’ home at 409 Kearney and it is there that more evidence of animal cruelty was present.
The detective got a search warrant and made contact with Fidel Benavides. Benavides’ home was a gruesome and unsanitary den of animal cruelty. The home on Kearney was found to have 5 dogs and 1 cat in very poor and neglected condition. The cat was in a cage with 2 to 3 inches of feces. The water and food bowls were also soiled in feces. 2 of the 5 dogs were malnourished and also had signs of neglect.
One dog had mange and the other had tethering where a chain had been around the animal’s neck for so long that it had begun to dig into the animal’s skin. The home also had an assortment of veterinarian drugs which included Ketamine, a power sedative also used in “nightclub drugs” better known as “special k”. These and other narcotics regulated by the DEA were confiscated along with an assortment of other items as evidence.
Fidel Benavides admitted to investigators as to the theft of the control substances / narcotics from the vet’s office where he worked at. Benavides further stated that he cut the ears of the pit bull in the original call for a fee. The veterinarian confirmed the theft allegations and missing items from his office also filled charges against his former employee. On August 26, 2009 Justice of the Peace Hector Liendo issued 4 Cruelty to Animals C/A (PC 42.092) arrest warrants with a $5,000 bond for each count, and 1 arrest warrant for License required C/A (Veterinary Occupations Code 801.251) $5,000 bond. He has pending additional charges for the other related criminal acts.
