A San Diego boy who suffered a fractured skull in a hit-and-run collision in San Ysidro has been released from the hospital.

Lennox Lake, 6, was back home Tuesday after his release from Rady's Children's hospital.

The boy was injured May 6 in a hit-and-run crash at Camino De La Plaza and Dairy Mart Road as the family was returning from a trip to Disneyland.

Constantino Banda, 38, collided into the rear passenger area on driver's side of the Lennox family car. That's where Lennox was strapped into his car seat, the family said.

Banda, who has been deported 15 times in more than a decade, faces charges of driving under the influence, driving without a license and felony hit and run. He was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents after the crash.

Banda pleaded not guilty in court. His bail was set at $23,000.

NBC 7's Liberty Zabala speaks with California Secretary of State Alex Padilla about the 1,500 new U.S. citizens and their most important duty.

A man armed with a machete and rocks was shot several times with several types of weapons in a confrontation with authorities, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO) said Wednesday.

Deputies were called to a home at Lilac and Hideaway Lake roads in Valley Center just after noon. Deputies were told a suspect on the property was armed with a machete, according to Lt. Kenn Nelson.

Nelson said preliminary information from deputies and witnesses suggest there was a man holding a rock in one hand and a machete in the other.

The man was throwing rocks at one point and yelling at the deputies in Spanish, Nelson said.

When the man failed to comply with deputies' commands, they used several means to take the man into custody ranging from a bean-bag gun, a Taser, a K-9 and a department-issued handgun, Nelson said.

The man was eventually taken into custody, he said.

Deputies believe the suspect, identified as 23-year-old Miguel Zuniga, may be a friend or family member of the property owner, suffered minor injuries from the Taser, the bean-bag gun and the K-9.

Deputies are not sure if the man in custody is a resident of San Diego County.

NBC 7 Chopper shows two locations where there is crime scene tape. One location is the property at 29586 Lilac Rd. The second is the Lilac Market shopping center.

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Sheriff Bill Gore was on scene for approximately a half-hour and told NBC 7 he had already spoken with the deputy who fired at the nearby sheriff’s station.

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This is the third deputy-involved shooting this month for the SDSO:

May 10: Deputies fatally shot a motorist following a short pursuit over back-country roads east of Barona Casino. A Barona Tribal Enforcement officer reported that a driver tried to hit an officer with a truck. Deputies David Williams, Aaron Brooke, Patrick Farber and Matthew Addenbrooke were identified as those involved in the shooting.

May 15: A suspect accused of stabbing an employee at a Rubio's in Solana Beach was fatally shot by a San Diego County Sheriff’s deputy in Del Mar. Deputy Noah Zarnow, a five-year veteran assigned to the North Coastal Station, was identified as the deputy involved.

Just last weekend, a man died after he was involved in a confrontation with deputies in Lemon Grove. Video captures the attempt by two deputies to take Mark Roshawn Adkins into custody on May 20. They were responding to the report of a man jumping a fence into backyards and attempting to enter condos. Adkins, 54, was struck by the Tasers of two deputies in the struggle. He lost consciousness while being treated by emergency personnel at the scene and later died at a hospital.

On March 1, two deputies were involved in the fatal shooting of a man in a gated San Marcos community. Deputies Brian Bloomberg and Matthew Shull responded to a report of an intruder inside a home on Edgewater Drive. Isidro Bazan Jr., 34, a transient, was killed in the confrontation after he was struck in the torso.

There were also fatal deputy-involved shootings in Encinitas in October 2016, one in Vista and one in Poway both in August 2016, one in Alpine in May 2016 and one in Campo in February 2016.

Please refresh this page for updates on this story. Details may change as more information becomes available.

Actor and host Nick Cannon returned to his roots Wednesday, coming home to San Diego for a showcase meant to inspire students to create solutions to help their communities.

The San Diego Unified School District’s College, Career and Technical Education Showcase partnered with Cannon and the Nick Cannon Foundation’s teen technology competition, “America’s Teen Mogul,” in which students connect with local businesses to find ways to solve issues specific to San Diego.

Students from the district’s School of Creative & Performing Arts (SCPA) showed Cannon their business plans and prototypes of inventions. Later in the day, Cannon will host an awards ceremony for the students at the SCPA campus on Dusk Drive. The public is welcome to attend the free event.

While in town, Cannon’s calendar also includes a 6:30 p.m. stop at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation on Euclid Avenue. There, the star will present the 10 most motivational youth in San Diego County on behalf of the Nick Cannon Foundation. Cannon plans to speak at this event, which is also co-hosted by the San Diego chapter of the civil rights organization, National Action Network.

The Nick Cannon Foundation aims to educate and empower youth through the media, particularly kids between the ages of 13 and 18, to rise and become leaders in their communities.

Cannon is a San Diego native and a 1998 graduate of Monte Vista High School in Spring Valley. In past visits to San Diego, he has talked about what it means to him to be from America’s Finest City and to return to help children in the community.

“I’m a product of this community; I was born and raised in San Diego,” he said. “To be able to come back home and see young faces and young people here today, knowing that we’re helping to inspire and to empower you guys in a way to help you understand that your future is ahead of you [is a great feeling].”

A man was hospitalized after suffering multiple stings in Ramona Wednesday afternoon, confirmed Cal Fire.

The incident happened on the 15400 block of Wyport Road just after noon, and it was not yet clear whether bees or wasps were responsible for the stings. According to Cal Fire, the 38-year-old victim was taken to Pomerado Hospital by paramedics. The victim's current condition is not yet known.

In a previous interview, a bee expert told NBC 7 that swarming season tends to be exacerbated following a wet winter and spring.

After last winter's record rains, there is a lot more nectar and food around to replenish the swarms.

Beekeepers say the best way to avoid agressive bees is to run in a straight line, because the bees fly in a zigzag. Never jump into water because bees will wait at the surface for someone to come up for air.

Only 4 percent of the population is highly allergic to bees but an attack can endanger anyone, according to beekeepers. On average, it takes 50 stings to place the life of a healthy adult at risk.

Check back on this developing story as more details become available.

San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob called for a shooting ban on federal land Wednesday in the area where the May 20 Gate Fire was sparked by gunfire, spreading flames over more than 2,000 acres.

"The issue has taken on even greater urgency following a major wildfire this past weekend," wrote Jacob to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.

Jacob asked the U.S. Department of Interior to ban recreational shooting in and around the Donohoe Mountain, near the community of Dulzura, according to a representative for the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

The representative says the Gate Fire sparked in a backcountry area by gunfire where target shooting practice is popular.

However, the Bureau of Land Management and Cal Fire are still handling a criminal investigation to determine the exact cause of the Gate Fire.

Cal Fire PIO Isaac Sanchez told NBC 7 the investigation is not conclusive yet.

It is not known whether an illegal weapon was used or if it was started by some other cause. An instagram video was submitted as potential evidence.

"Over the past several years, many concerned residents from Dulzura have reported serious public safety issues and fire hazards associated with a large increase in shooting," wrote Jacob to Douglas Herrema, the Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office Manager.

Multiple crews responded to the fire including 850 fire personnel, 84 engines, seven air tankers and other resources, over the course of several days, said the representative.

Jacob's previous requests to the Bureau of Land Management officials to prohibit year-round shooting on the property near Dulzura were not acted on, said the representative. That was despite a high risk of wildfires in the area.

Residents near Dulzura have been concerned about shooting practice in the Donohoe Mountain area for a long time, according to the representative.

They have complained about bullets traveling close to houses and excessive trash being left out by shooters, Jacob wrote in a letter to the California Desert District Manager Beth Ransel.

Cal Fire PIO Sanchez said the investigation into the fire's cause is ongoing.

Balboa Park will once again come alive after five this summer when the San Diego landmark brings back a popular program offering special nighttime attractions and deals.

"Balboa Park After Dark" starts this Friday and runs each Friday through Sept. 1. The late-night program, which aims to attract visitors to Balboa Park during a time outside of normal peak hours, includes extended evening hours at eight museums, plus food trucks and entertainment throughout park.

On Balboa Park After Dark Fridays, these museums will be open until at least 8 p.m.:

• Japanese Friendship Garden
• Mingei International Museum (participating beginning July 7, with special $5 admission after 5 p.m.)
• San Diego Art Institute
• Spanish Village
• San Diego Museum of Man (open until 8:30 p.m., and offering special sunset tours of the iconic California Tower, plus the new exhibit, “Living With Animals.”)
• San Diego Natural History Museum
• The San Diego Museum of Art (special $5 admission on Friday nights)
• Reuben H. Fleet Science Center (half-price admission during Balboa Park After Dark through June 23, including a 7 p.m. IMAX film)

Additionally, Balboa Park said the Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA) will be open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays this summer (rather than Fridays), and the San Diego Museum of Art will be open until 8:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Extended museum hours are subject to change, so it’s best to visit the specific museum’s website before heading out for the night.

As Balboa Park After Park returns for the summer, it will be joined by another cool Friday night event known as "Food Truck Fridays."

Food Truck Fridays, organized by the Balboa Park Conservancy and the City of San Diego Park and Recreation Department, kicks off on June 2 and will feature a rotating selection of more than a dozen food trucks parked along the Plaza de Panama and El Prado from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

This weekly event, which runs every Friday through Sept. 29, will also feature live, family-friendly music and entertainment.

Since seating at the Plaza de Panama is limited, Balboa Park says visitors can bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit in the lawn area in front of the Botanical Building while they eat and enjoy the park.

Both of the summertime series are open to visitors of all ages. Grab the family and make the most of that Friday night.

The place where the Chargers used to play is looking like a legal minefield to San Diego's City Attorney Mara Elliott.

She's worried that taxpayers could face huge costs under the "SoccerCity" plan to develop the current Qualcomm Stadium site.

After working through the 3,200 pages of the project's initiative, Elliott has raised 27 pages worth of red flags about SoccerCity issues.They'll need resolving -- if voters approve the measure -- by way of lease bargaining with Mayor Kevin Faulconer.

To Elliott, the initiative lacks key guarantees and clarity.

She says it presents, "uncertainties … novel and untested issues" that could wind up in lawsuits that burden the taxpayers.

SoccerCity's private investors are offering a number of concessions, in terms of money and protections for the city.

They told NBC 7, they'll publish the lease before the initiative goes to the ballot, to show that Elliott's concerns have been resolved to her satisfaction.

The initiative has powerful backers including Faulconer, along with voter-approval survey numbers in the 60-plus percent range.

While it'll only require a simple majority for passage, there's well-financed opposition from other developers.

“This is going to have an array and a diversity of opponents unlike anything I’ve ever seen on this scale,” said Voice of San Diego editor Scott Lewis, who’s extensively covered the proposal.

Next month, the City Council will decide whether to put the initiative on a November special election ballot -- or the November, 2018 general election ballot.

Lewis foresees this kind of scenario playing out: "The soccer guys will say 'Look, our window to getting a team in San Diego is closing. And so you don't want to play that game, fine. But that window is real.’ If that window is not real, that would be significant."

San Diego State University (SDSU) has backed out of involvement with the project.

“Very problematic,” is how Fred Pierce, a past SDSU alumni association president, describes the initiative.

As he told NBC 7 in a Wednesday interview: “If it in fact passes, the issues that the city attorney raises will tie up the initiative in court for an unquantifiable length of time.”

Cal Fire Department crews are responding to a brush fire just north of Interstate 8 in Boulevard.

The fire sparked at 3:51 p.m. west of Ribbonwood, Cal Fire officials said. 

It spread to 10 acres as of 4:05 p.m. 

There was no threat to any nearby structures.

No other information was available.

Please refresh this page for updates on this story. Details may change as more information becomes available.

The City of El Cajon marked the beginning of the construction of a new animal shelter.

Mayor Bill Wells said the current, 50-year-old animal shelter needs to be upgraded.

“It’s just not very inviting for the dogs and cats,” he said. “It doesn’t seem to be up to the standards we want today.”

The groundbreaking ceremony was held Wednesday at the spot where the new facility will be built on North Marshall Avenue.

The new shelter will be twice the size of the current one with veterinary offices, grooming and play areas as well as pet adoption services.

The $9 million project was funded by a half-cent sales tax approved by voters to help fund public safety facilities.

The shelter is expected to open by fall of 2018.

Military service members, their families and veterans can adopt a dog, cat or rabbit for free in late May, confirmed San Diego County officials.

San Diego County Animal Services will waive adoption fees for the military starting Friday, May 26 through Sunday May 28.

Every 69 minutes a U.S. Veteran dies from suicide and every day there are 3,200 dogs euthanized nationwide, according to the Shelter to Soldier website.

The adoption fee waiver aims to give back to men and women in uniform, by providing them with a new animal friend at no charge, said County officials.

Veterans who adopt pets occasionally develop the bond of a lifetime. They are often supported through rough patches with help from their four-legged friends.

"It’s one of those things that you just can’t describe. It’s just something that I have with him," said Ben Kilhefner, U.S. Navy Veteran while stroking his dog Tank, in a previous interview with the county. "He's goofy, he's loveable, caring."

All the adoption fees will be covered by an organization called Animals for Armed Forces. That includes the cost of vaccinations, spay/neuter, a microchip, licensing and a free veterinary exam within ten days of adoption.

"Ben came to our facility -- his chin chattering, his hands shaking, his eyes at the ground," said Graham Bloem, the Founder and Training Director of Shelter to Soldier.

"And I grabbed Tank, the first dog I had in mind that I thought would potentially be a good match for Ben anyway. We watched before our eyes his breath slow down, his hands stop shaking. His chin stopped chattering," explained Bloem.

There are three animal care facilities offering free adoptions to military service members and vets.

Qualified residents can stop by any of the County facilities from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They can choose from hundreds of animals up for adoption, said County officials.

"He’s always leaning against me, putting his paw on my foot, trying to establish that connection still to make sure, hey I’m okay," said  Kilhefner. "Just like right now. He saw that I was having a nightmare and stuff. He just knows and he’d kind of wake me up."

Any active duty, reserve and veterans of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force, Army, National Guard and their immediate families may qualify for the adoption fee waiver.

"What we’re doing does help because I just witnessed it. Tank was originally found as a stray. And his future wasn’t looking very bright. I think we got Tank just in time," said Bloem. "I didn’t train Tank to wake Ben up from a nightmare but the connection they had created that response."

In order to qualify, potential adopters must bring one of the following types of photo identification: military ID, Dependent ID, Veterans ID, DD-214 and driver's license or NGB Form 22.

More than 30 locations across southern California and Utah are participating in the Animals for Armed Forces event.

If you need more information, call County Animal Services at (619)767-2675.

Tom Cruise confirmed in an interview Wednesday that Top Gun 2 will be happening.

The iconic 1986 movie features many scenes in San Diego, including a famous piano scene with Cruise and Meg Ryan, where a piano is played in the Kansas City Barbeque restaurant, located downtown.

The restaurant is still a popular place to eat and displays Top Gun paraphenelia and the same piano used in the movie.

"Just seemed like a fun thing to do," said Martin Blair, owner of Kansas City Barbeque, who said he had no idea the movie would be so popular when the crew asked to use his restaurant to film in 1985. "All the guys were nice. They came in and said can we film on a Monday and shut it down to shoot. We said sure and they set up, filmed all day and it’s been very good to us.”

Fans in San Diego expressed excitement over the sequel Wednesday. Some wanted to know about the new technology that will be used: the navy no longer even operates the F-14 Tomcat that cruise flew in the original movie.

Fire season in San Diego is just beginning and already, Cal Fire is warning this year could be one of the worst yet.

Rural areas are not the only places at risk -- urban and coastal communities are too.

The reason, according to Cal Fire, is the wild grass that has sprouted all over San Diego County.

“We had a lot of rain and so we’ve got the grass and those fine fuels,” said Cal Fire Chief Tony Mecham. “They’re very receptive to ignitions this year.”

As of May 20, there has been 921 fires statewide, with 14,898 acres burned. At the same time last year, there were 844 fires across the state, with 1,729 acres burned. That’s a difference in 13,000 acres, according to Cal Fire.

“If we have weather like we’ve had this week, in the 90s, we’re going to have fires,” Mecham said.

The abundance of wild grass means communities typically at low risk for fires, could be at a much greater risk this year.

Those communities could include Solana Beach, Mount Soledad and Mission Valley.

Construction crews have begun demolishing the destroyed portion of the main spillway at Oroville Dam as they race to repair the structure in time for the next rainy season.

State water officials and construction managers said Wednesday they expect to begin pouring fresh concrete in June, starting at the bottom of the 3,000-foot chute and working their way up.

The spillway is the main outlet for Oroville Dam, the country's tallest.

Huge swathes of the spillway began washing away in February. When a second, emergency spillway also began giving way Feb. 12, authorities ordered the temporary evacuation of 188,000 people downstream.

Crews aim to replace the lower portion of the spillway by Nov. 1, when winter rain and snow increase the flow of water into the lake.

Several mudslides on Highway 1 have caused Big Sur to become isolated and difficult to reach, but never fear, if you’re willing to pay a hefty cost, Post Ranch Inn is now offering a helicopter package for guests to witness the California gem.

The helicopter service is being called, “Escape through the Skies.” and promises guests a once-in-a-lifetime journey, filled with a champagne welcome and a stunning twenty-minute helicopter ride along the Big Sur coast.

According to the Post Ranch Inn website, this package is only available for booking for guests staying two or more nights during May and June and can cost as little as $4,291 or as much as $13,518.

A massive landslide along the iconic coastal highway in California has buried the road under a 40-foot layer of rock and dirt, the latest hit after a winter of crippling slides and flooding.

A swath of the hillside gave way in an area called Mud Creek on Saturday night, changing the Big Sur coastline below to include what now looks like a rounded skirt hem.

A late game rally gave the Padres their first win of the series against the Mets 6-5. This was a much needed victory for the Friars but it was a hard fought game.

Padres starting pitcher Jarred Cosart made it to the 2nd inning. That has not been the case in three of the last four games for San Diego. But in the third inning Cosart found himself in a bases loaded jam with two outs. Third baseman Wilmer Flores hit a bases-clearing double and gave the Mets a 3-1 lead. For the fourth time in five games, Friars manager Andy Green pulled his starter earlier then he hoped.

In the fifth inning, down by two runs, the Padres initiated their rally. Yangervis Solarte doubled to deep right center field and scored Luis Torrens and Matt Szczur. Solarte finished the night with three RBI.

Wil Myers did his part in the seventh inning when the Padres All-Star singled to deep right center field. His RBI double brought in Chase d’Arnaud and Szczur and tied things up 5-5.

Here’s a name you’ve heard in nearly every Padres highlight: Hunter Renfroe. The Friars outfielder sent his ninth home run of the season to left field and gave San Diego the 6-5 lead.

Brad Hand came in as the reliever in the ninth inning and got himself in a bases loaded jam. The lefty struck out the next two batters and managed to get the save for the Padres.

The series finale is Thursday May 25 at 4:10 p.m. PST at Citi Field.

A San Diego marine veteran who was previously arrested and deported from Mexico, has returned there, in a disappearance that has alarmed his family Wednesday.

Tyler James Yeager, 39, has gone back to Mexico after he was charged in a string of robberies in Tijuana by Mexican authorities last April, announced the Family Spokesman Jonathan Franks.

Back in 2014, Yeager was booked into Montana's Ravalli County Detention Center for multiple charges, including sexual assault and various traffic offenses, according to Sheriff Steve Holton.

His family has notified law enforcement in San Diego, and is currently working to reach the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana to request that they notify Mexican law enforcement, explained Franks.

The family has asked for Yeager to be detained out of an abundance of caution because they are worried he may harm himself or others, said Franks.

Once a Mexican judge released Yeager from custody, the family was eager for him to resume treatment for his PTSD and meth addiction.

"The family's advocacy for Tyler's initial release was coupled with the expectation that he would re-enter treatment for PTSD," Franks said, in a statement. "We hope that when found, our Border Patrol will not let a U.S. Marine with PTSD lose on the streets of San Diego."

His family is exasperated that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection failed to stop Yeager from entering Mexico, despite having no I.D. and a previous deportation from the country on his record, added Franks.

No further information was immediately available.

A San Diego woman is asking the city to fix the hill behind her home after it was destroyed during a major rain storm back in February.

“My concern is number one safety, and second, it looks like hell. Simple as that,” said Pat Shinsky.

Shinsky lives off Aldine Drive in the Kensington community in the City of San Diego. So far, she has not seen any concrete steps being taken to fix the hill.

"It was early in the morning and dirt was over the eastbound lane of Aldine. So, I called 911," said Shinsky. 

She added, "By the time I got back from the appointment, the street was closed and they were backhoeing the dirt to the edge of the street, which is where it has been ever since."

Shinsky said she has reached out to councilwoman Georgette Gomez’s office and the Mayor’s office.

The City of San Diego and the state actually tried to prevent a hill slide like this by putting up a wall behind the homes off Aldine Drive years ago.

City officials said that after a large amount of rain back in 2004 and 2005, there were sections of the slope behind homes that started to erode. Back then, the City of San Diego and the state declared a state of emergency.

As a result, the city received federal grants to put up a concrete retaining wall behind homes.

Shinsky told NBC 7, the problem is the project didn’t extend the wall to protect her home. Instead, she said, crews sheared off the hillside, taking out vegetation that was already there.

"It had never adhered-- whatever they put here. Where the wall is, it is all taken care of," said Shinsky.

"Here, the plants and black material they put down weren’t going to hold and that was obvious over the years. I kept writing and writing and it was never addressed. I believe in prevention rather than waiting until something like this happens," said Shinksy.

City officials told NBC 7, the hillside will need both a short-term fix and a long-term solution. The hill is expected to be evaluated next week.

A solution is in the works and in the meantime, the area will be monitored and maintained.

The City of San Diego said there is no timeline in place yet for when a short-term or long-term repair will be completed.

There are accusations of puppies living in inhumane conditions inside stores in San Diego County. Some have died just weeks after being born.

The stores are located in two cities in San Diego County--Escondido and National City.

In one store, NBC 7 Investigates found between 20 to 30 puppies living in small cages.

Some San Diegans have been working tirelessly to shut down these stores. 

One owner, however, told NBC 7 Investigates, he's doing nothing wrong and stands behind his business.

"20 puppies were being treated for minor to moderate medical conditions. And six of that were told to me by staff, that were in critical condition," said National City Animal Control Officer, Jane Gordon.

Gordon explained her findings at a 2016 National City, city council meeting, after inspecting National City Puppy.

According to Gordon, there were 86 puppies and three kittens on site that day. 

"I'm a little concerned. Some of the large breed puppies...there were about 3 to 4 to a cage," she told the council.

National City Puppy was never cited by the City and its owner told NBC 7 Investigates, a veterinarian checks all its puppies and it seeks medical treatment for any that are sick.

At the 2016 meeting, Gordon continued describing the questionable practices some stores go through to receive the dogs. She explained they're usually from the Midwest. They go from a breeder, to a kennel, to the broker and then to the pet store.

"Reputable breeders never, ever sell to a pet store.  They won't sell to someone sight unseen. They want to meet you and for you to meet them and see where the dog will be raised," said animal rights activist, Andrea Cunningham.

Cunningham leads "Not One Animal Harmed," an animal advocacy group. She told NBC 7 Investigates, conditions like this have raised concerns for a number of cities across the county--several passing ordinances banning pet stores.

But not two cities with stores--National City and Escondido.

David Salinas owns shops in both cities; Broadway Puppies in Escondido and National City Puppy.

NBC 7 Investigates spoke to Salinas over the phone. He wouldn't disclose where his puppies come from.

"Not for this interview but we can certainly for our customers who come into the store," Salinas said.

He added his stores display the puppies' breeder and basic information in plain sight, something that is not required by law.

When NBC 7 Investigates visited Broadway Puppies, nearly 20 puppies, on display in the store had no breeder information.

"I'm sure you just got us at a time where the puppies were just being put in or being moved around," Salinas responded.

Rio Quinn and her husband told NBC 7 Investigates they remember the moment they first saw Vizsla puppy, Scooter, inside a cage at another store, Carlsbad Pets.

"He was coughing. It was horrible, absolutely horrible. I couldn't just leave him there. So we went in and bought him," explained Quinn.

After visits to two different veterinarians, Scooter was diagnosed with kennel cough, severe pneumonia, and tested positive for distemper, a viral disease preventable with a vaccine.

"It was all absolutely horrible and he ended up living not even 30 days with us and he was hospitalized for almost two weeks of that," Quinn added.

The couple was forced to give Scooter to a Vizsla rescue who determined his illnesses were too severe.  He had to be euthanized.

"There was nothing they could do," Quinn explained. "His lungs were failing. He needed about $26,000 of care." 

Their beloved puppy was gone.

"Scooter came from a puppy mill in Iowa with over 300 dogs on the premises at the time of their last known USDA inspection," said Cunningham.

Cunningham described that Scooter was marketed as a puppy from a home based breeder. 

"I don't know about you, but I can't fit 300 dogs in my house," she added. "Can you?"

Last year, the City of Carlsbad voted to ban the retail sale of dogs and cats from commercial breeders, causing Carlsbad Pets to close.

In National City, after hearing animal control officer Gordon's findings, the council voted against a similar ordinance. In Escondido, no ordinance has been proposed, despite some community members pushing for one.

NBC 7 Investigates found documents showing $3,000 worth of campaign contributions by Salinas to Escondido councilmember Mike Morasco.

Salinas told NBC 7 Investigates his reasoning behind the payments is simple.

"We have no problem supporting any candidate that supports us. And not just Morasco or any other city council member," Salinas said.

Councilmember Morasco told NBC 7 investigates he feels an ordinance regulating pet stores isn't a local legislative issue, it's a state or federal one. 

Meantime, Salinas and another store, Escondido Pets told us they are working with lobbyists in Sacramento to try to stop legislation, AB 485, that would prohibit pet store owners from selling dogs, cats, or rabbits in a pet store unless they come from a shelter. 

Salinas added, "We're a puppy store. We're not a pet product store. When you take away the rights to sell puppies, kittens and rabbits for the retail sale to the consumer, then that puts us out of business."

The bill is currently on the assembly floor and will need to be voted on by June 2, or it will have to be reintroduced next year.

Quinn sued Carlsbad Pets after Scooter's death in order to get the money she spent on the puppy back.

A judge ruled in her favor, requiring the pet store to pay Quinn more than $3,000.

She is still waiting for the complete payment.

The City of San Diego says it will be checking to see if local soccer clubs are doing what they are supposed to when it comes to soccer goal post safety after NBC 7 Investigates found some posts not secured properly.

According to experts, there are standards soccer clubs should follow when it comes to storing goal posts when in use and not in use. This includes appropriately anchoring them when in use. Parents NBC 7 Investigates spoke with said they are not familiar with what makes a goal post safe, or in many cases, unsafe.

Two years ago an accident at a school in Chula Vista brought this issue to light.

A 13-year-old boy fractured his skull after he jumped on an unsecured goal post and it fell on him. The family sued the Sweetwater Union High School District, and according to his attorney, Horatio Barraza, the family has reached a settlement.

According to Barraza, the teenager, Marco La Farga, has hearing loss, memory loss, and blurry vision.

“His parents report all sorts of mood swings associated with this type of injury,” said Barraza.

After the goal post fell, La Farga had to be airlifted to Rady Children's Hospital. He was there for more than a month, three weeks of that spent in a medically induced coma. 

According to records of soccer goal incidents reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there have been 58 incidents since the year 2000.

“It is so preventable,” said Tom Tobin, the former National Executive Director for the American Youth Soccer Organization in Los Angeles. One role of the organization is to increase awareness and educate parents, coaches and soccer leagues about goal post safety.

“Kids are kids and they turn a soccer goal into a jungle gym,” said Tobin. “So, if it's easy for them to do that, then we have a much higher risk of tipping incident.”

According to Tobin, the majority of the injuries happen when there is no organized activity, with little or no adult supervision, making how the posts are stored critical.

“When goals are not in use, the best thing you can do is chain them face to face or chain them up against a fence or building in such a way they can't be used," Tobin said. "That's the best way to protect kids when adults are not around."

Checking soccer fields in San Diego, NBC 7 Investigates found goal posts that were not stored properly. At Hickman Field in Kearny Mesa, one post was not chained to the fence at all, though it is behind a locked gate. Another was chained only on one side. Experts recommend a chain on both sides.

At Robb Field in Ocean Beach, NBC 7 Investigates found posts out in the open, not secured. They were lightweight, which Tobin said makes them even more likely to tip.

NBC 7 Investigates contacted the organization that owns the improperly stored goal posts at Robb Field. After being shown pictures of the unsecured posts, a director said the soccer club now will be taking the posts down every day and locking them inside a cage. As for the posts at Hickman Field, a soccer official said he would follow up with the clubs using the field to look into what actions may need to be taken.

The city of San Diego gives various soccer clubs permits to use city-owned fields. After being alerted to what NBC 7 Investigates found, the city says it will follow up with groups at every park to ensure goal posts are stored safely.

During games, referees are supposed to make sure the posts are anchored so they won’t tip. Tobin said they should also be anchored during practices. According to Tobin, stakes should be driven into holes in the posts sidebars. If it is a turf field, sand bags can be used as counterweights, or cylinders of lead can be attached to the back bar.

NBC 7 investigates also visited two soccer practices. Both times, there were goal posts that were not anchored down.

When questioned about the goal posts, one coach said he was using the goal post to teach field position, not scoring. Besides, he said he is supervising his players.

Another coach nearby agreed.

“He looks like he's got a pretty controlled soccer environment and those kids look a little older,” said Kevin Rine.

Tobin said that is not always good enough.

“Kids will be kids, and even in just a moment with the coach's attention diverted somewhere else and there's a pause or a moment in the practice,” a child’s inclination is to hang on the goal post, he said.

Barraza said Marco’s parents are relieved he survived, as it could have been much worse. Marco is now 16 years old and according to Barraza, he and his family moved back to Mexico so Marco can better deal with the trauma.