World & Nation

Photos: Escaping a dog’s life on skid row

A pit bull puppy waits to be adopted by Salvador Ornelas, 22, at the North Central Animal Shelter. It was one of 10 puppies taken last month from Gerrick Miller, a homeless man. This followed allegations by animal rescuers that Miller was operating a puppy mill for profit.

A pit bull puppy waits to be adopted by Salvador Ornelas, 22, at the North Central Animal Shelter. It was one of 10 puppies taken last month from Gerrick Miller, a homeless man. This followed allegations by animal rescuers that Miller was operating a puppy mill for profit.   (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Allegations that a homeless man on the outskirts of skid row was breeding pit bull puppies for sale has aroused the city’s animal rescue community, which accused the city of failing to enforce laws to stop the spread of dogs destined for death or disease.

A dog's life on skid row

Three pit bull puppies from a litter of 10 wait in a pen for adoption at the North Central Animal Shelter in Los Angeles. For a week, the puppies remained on skid row sidewalks, dividing the rescue community and confounding officials unsure of the law, or reluctant to enforce it.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

A dog's life on skid row

Gerrick Miller, 52, who lives on the streets of Los Angeles’ skid row, holds one of 10 pit bull puppies from his dog Sugar. Animal rescuers say he is breeding the dogs for sale. He said the puppies are not for sale.

  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

A dog's life on skid row

Diana Melton, 52, who is homeless, pets her friend Derrick Miller’s dog Sugar. She helps him take care of Sugar’s litter of pit bull puppies.

  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

A dog's life on skid row

Derrick Miller’s pit bull puppies sleep at East 9th Street and Towne Avenue in Los Angeles. Animal rescuers demanded that the city’s Animal Services Department confiscate the dogs.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

A dog's life on skid row

Salvador Ornelas, 22, who adopted one of Gerrick Miller’s puppies, is given the dog by Sylvia Flores, an animal care technician at the North Central Animal Shelter in Los Angeles.

  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

A dog's life on skid row

Salvador Ornelas tries a leash while bonding with the pit bull puppy he adopted at the North Central Animal Shelter in Los Angeles. “I want to take him hiking, walking and running,” Ornelas says.   (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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