THORTON -
A non-profit organization of animal cruelty investigators, called ACI say they are blowing the lid off of animal abuse in bull fights all across California. Animal rights activists are saying so-called bloodless bullfighting is anything but bloodless.
The alleged abuse was caught on tape at a bull fight Friday night in Thornton. The fight was interrupted by a privately licensed animal cruelty investigator who says the bulls were being stabbed with 3 inch nails hidden in festive wooden sticks.
For people in the bull fighting business this is a wild accusation. One man who works as a grounds keeper for the Our Lady of Fatima bull fighting arena tells FOX 40 News that the bulls don't get hurt. He says the bullfighting that's held in their arena is called bloodless bull fighting where promoters say the bulls aren't stabbed or injured in anyway. But animal cruelty investigators disagree. Animal Cruelty Investigations Spokesperson, Jane Garrison, tells us her colleagues have "Seen bulls punctured and bulls bleeding and sticks poking out of the sides of these bulls, which is in clear violation of animal cruelty code."
Just last weekend, the same animal activists alleged that bulls were being stabbed at a bloodless bullfight in southern California. Bullfighting of any kind is illegal under California law, but there is one exception. If it's in connection with a religious celebration, common in the Portuguese culture, bloodless bullfighting is allowed.
San Joaquin County Sheriff's deputies did make two arrests from Friday night's incident. Darrin Nunes is facing assault charges for allegedly choking the humane officer conducting the investigation. Cesar Rocha was charged with resisting arrest as well as assaulting and inciting a riot. It's now up to the district attorney to determine if animal cruelty charges will be filed.
The alleged abuse was caught on tape at a bull fight Friday night in Thornton. The fight was interrupted by a privately licensed animal cruelty investigator who says the bulls were being stabbed with 3 inch nails hidden in festive wooden sticks.
For people in the bull fighting business this is a wild accusation. One man who works as a grounds keeper for the Our Lady of Fatima bull fighting arena tells FOX 40 News that the bulls don't get hurt. He says the bullfighting that's held in their arena is called bloodless bull fighting where promoters say the bulls aren't stabbed or injured in anyway. But animal cruelty investigators disagree. Animal Cruelty Investigations Spokesperson, Jane Garrison, tells us her colleagues have "Seen bulls punctured and bulls bleeding and sticks poking out of the sides of these bulls, which is in clear violation of animal cruelty code."
Just last weekend, the same animal activists alleged that bulls were being stabbed at a bloodless bullfight in southern California. Bullfighting of any kind is illegal under California law, but there is one exception. If it's in connection with a religious celebration, common in the Portuguese culture, bloodless bullfighting is allowed.
San Joaquin County Sheriff's deputies did make two arrests from Friday night's incident. Darrin Nunes is facing assault charges for allegedly choking the humane officer conducting the investigation. Cesar Rocha was charged with resisting arrest as well as assaulting and inciting a riot. It's now up to the district attorney to determine if animal cruelty charges will be filed.
