MONTEREY COUNTY (BCN) – A Salinas man has been convicted of felony animal cruelty for failing to provide veterinary care for his seriously ill dog, Monterey County
District Attorney Dean Flippo announced Tuesday.
Alejandro Cerritos Lopez, 30, faces a maximum sentence of three years in county jail when he is sentenced on May 24.
In early 2014, Lopez’s dog Kingbo developed a severe case of demodex, a common skin mite that can be treated with medicated baths or oral medication, prosecutors said.
The 11-month-old pit bull mix developed numerous secondary bacterial infections and septic arthritis in his joints when the demodex became more severe and progressed to his entire body.
Prosecutors said there were many obvious indicators Kingbo urgently needed veterinary care, but Lopez did not take him to a veterinarian at any time in 2014.
The Monterey County SPCA seized Kingbo on March 20, 2014. At the time, his entire body was covered in painful, bleeding and infected scabs that fell off him as he walked, prosecutors said.
His condition was so bad, a SPCA veterinarian determined it was most humane to euthanize the dog to end his suffering.
Lopez had waived his right to a trial by jury on the animal cruelty charges. Monterey County Superior Court Judge Carrie Panetta found him guilty at the conclusion of his court trial.