September 23, 2025 – Merced County Sheriff's Office officials report that on September 21, 2025, Animal Services Officer Pacheco and Deputies Alberton and Ochoa responded to a Dairy in the 20100 block of Copa De Oro Avenue in Los Banos for an allegation of a dairy employee abusing a cow. During their investigation, deputies determined that the employee of the Dairy was caught on camera whipping, shocking, and placing a water hose down the cow's throat over fifty times. The employee was also observed hitting the cow several times with a gate while it was in the cattle shoot.

The employee, identified as Salvador Vargas, 28, from Los Banos, was placed under arrest for animal cruelty-related charges and booked into the Merced County Sheriff's Office Jail. The Holstein Cow was moved to a medical barn for observation.

Great job, Animal Services Officer Pacheco and Deputies Alberton and Ochoa!

Source & photo: Merced County Sheriff's Office