“This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.”
Police in southern Texas have arrested a man, charging him with animal cruelty, after a neighbor recorded video of him dragging a dog by her leash behind a motorized mobility scooter.
Mission, Texas resident Melissa Torrez saw the man dragging a struggling German Shepherd by a leash around her neck through the neighborhood and stopped to confront him.
“I see him dragging his dog from the middle of street. … I’m out of my car yelling at him, asking him, ‘What are you doing? What’s wrong with you?’ And he just keeps going, telling me to mind my own business, it’s his dog he can do whatever he wants,” Torrez told KGBT.
When the man refused to stop, Torrez began recording video. In addition to posting the video to Facebook, she – along with hundreds of concerned animal lovers that saw the video – contacted Mission Police. Torrez says the man dragged the dog for at least two blocks.
WARNING: The broadcast below contains video footage which may be disturbing to some viewers.
Mission police said they received hundreds of calls from concerned residents which prompted an investigation. Police located the dog’s owner, 59-year-old Mario Cardona, and arrested him on animal cruelty charges.
While some people have criticized Torrez for recording video instead of taking more direct action, like cutting the leash or pushing the man off the scooter, for example, Mission Police Lt Jody Tittle said the video was important in this case. Without video evidence, it would have been difficult to charge Cardona with any crime. She did the right thing.
In addition to these new animal cruelty charges, Cardona has an arrest record dating back to 1993 on charges including aggravated assault, arson, and driving while intoxicated.
The dog, named G2, was removed from the Cardona residence and placed in the care of Mission Animal Control. Her caretakers say she’s in good health and doing well.
Cardona was booked into the Hidalgo County Jail on a single charge of cruelty to non-livestock animals. A judge set his bail at $10,000.
J. Jensen
Feb 27, 2017 at 11:10 am
Am I the only one wanting to know what happened to the poor dog???!!! I hope while this fat pig is in jail somebody smart and caring went over and takes his German Shepard and gives it a better forever home.
Michelle
Feb 27, 2017 at 10:20 am
The charge should be a felony. Innocent animals abused and hurt by crazy people need better protections. Stuff like this guy did is appalling. I could not watch the video. The description was enough to make my heart hurt.
Stacy
Feb 23, 2017 at 8:18 am
What a piece of shit!! I hope he pays dearly!!!
Pingback: WTF!! Man Caught On Video Dragging His Dog Behind Scooter **GRAPHIC** – RFM | RatchetFridayMedia | News & Entertainment
Vici
Feb 22, 2017 at 8:05 pm
I hope you ROT IN HELL YOU ASS HOLE AND THAT IS THE KINDEST WORD I THINK DESCRIBE YOU!
Denise B
Feb 27, 2017 at 10:00 am
I couldn't have said it better Vici.
Ken
Feb 22, 2017 at 1:02 pm
First of all the guy needs to Convicted of Animal Cruelty no doubt and hopefully Serve some time and heavily fined although that probably won't happen. All Animals / Pets needs to be removed from his care and never be allowed any pets or animals again. Plus and probably his worse penalty is for him to have to surrender his scooter so he can never do anything like this again as if he was WALKING the animal would never have been dragged like this in the first place. This is TOTALLY UNCALLED for to have an animal treated like this, Period. This person need to be punished severely just as the dog suffered, he should suffer as well.
Rebecca
Feb 22, 2017 at 12:58 pm
at the very least, he should have the same thing done to him
Tammi
Feb 22, 2017 at 11:31 am
This a**hole needs his a** kicked! Damn people! Make someone want to turn vigilante
Kathy Lauve
Feb 21, 2017 at 9:58 pm
This man should never be allowed to own a pet.
[email protected]
Feb 21, 2017 at 4:52 pm
PUT YOUR DAM CELL PHONE DOWN AND HELP THE DOG,,,,,,,what the hell is wrong with people, as guilty as the fat ass on the scooter, everyone whats to be a cell phone star
Nick
Feb 22, 2017 at 11:09 am
Did you read the article you dimwitted simpleton? Were it not for video evidence it would have been difficult to charge him with anything! Don't be a complete moron.
Marlena
Feb 22, 2017 at 11:11 am
she did the right thing.
1. you need proof for an arrest. the video did just that.
2. getting physically involved could end up with assault charges possibly against her (especially with no footage showing what actually happened).
3. if someone is that demented to drag a dog on a scooter, how do you know he's not packing a gun?
most people jump to conclusions with the "should have" and "i would of" but think with your brains, people. getting proof and calling the police was the right course of action.
Stephen Proffitt
Feb 22, 2017 at 2:09 pm
Do you even understand that without the Video evidence it would be next to impossible to charge the person involved. Because of this video the case is now a slam dunk for Prosecutors.
Michalle Dubots
Feb 21, 2017 at 4:26 pm
Animal cruelty in all 50 states is now a felony what is this fat ass only getting a simple charge that's so wrong