The Cameron County Sheriff’s Department said Wednesday the decision was reached after health officials determined the dogs were healthy and had not been malnourished.

“There is nothing criminal to charge (the owners) with,” Chief Deputy Gus Reyna Jr. said.

The “poodle-mix” dogs are expected to be returned to their owner, he added.

Officials rescued the dogs from about 2 feet of water Monday as the officials were going door-to-door evacuating people from the flooded area, said Emergency Management Director Johnny Cavazos. The “poodle-mix” dogs had been left locked in their kennels and were unable to escape the water, he said.

“They were up to their neck in water with no food or (drinking) water,” he said.

Officials estimate the dogs had been left in the water for at least 24 hours, and some were suffering from hypothermia.

“It may have been a puppy mill, but we are not 100 percent sure at this time,” Cavazos said Tuesday.

The canines were taken to the Cameron County Animal Shelter in San Benito for care and as of Wednesday were still there.

Although Reyna was under the impression that someone in the sheriff’s department had conferred early Wednesday with the district attorney’s office to discuss whether charges should be filed, Charles E. Mattingly, chief first assistant district attorney, said he didn’t speak to the sheriff’s department until Wednesday afternoon.

Mattingly said he was told that the family had not wanted to leave the dogs behind – that they had to make a decision to evacuate themselves or the dogs and chose themselves because they had no place to take the dogs.

“They (the sheriff’s department) don’t think it rose to the level of an intentional crime,” Mattingly said.

He said the district attorney’s office has yet to receive written information on the case. If the sheriff’s department decides to refer it to the district attorney, Mattingly said his office would go over the details to determine if any criminal acts occurred.

Yvette Salinas, director of the Cameron County Department of Health and Human Services, said Wednesday the dogs remained in the custody of the health department because officials were still gathering information.

One individual contacted health officials claiming to be the owner of the dogs, but officials were trying to verify this, Salinas said.

“We are still at the confirming stage,” she said. “We don’t have everything where I feel comfortable enough (to say) that yes, we are going to release the dogs to one particular person. I am not there yet.”

Brownsville Mayor Pat M. Ahumada Jr. said Brownsville PAWS and other rescue organizations should unite to make sure the owner of the dogs was found and prosecuted.

He also urged residents to contact the district attorney’s office to “log complaints against puppy mills and animal cruelty” and ask District Attorney Armando R. Villalobos to prosecute the case.


http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/articles/dogs-117148-cameron-charg...

Views: 310

Posts

Yet another act of stupidity by people! How can they not charge the owners?
I don't know but I would have been sitting there in the flood with my dogs.
But the dogs didn't seem to be neglected or malnourished... so everything is fine and they will have a pat on the back, such good people!! Do they think that we are that stupid??? Let's say that they didn't really have any place to take the dogs, so what about opening the kennel and at least giving the dogs a chance to survive and fight for their lives???? This is ridiculous and they are thinking of give them back their dogs even if it looks very much like a puppy mill??? I love dogs... I hate that kind of humans...
UPDATE - A county judge has taken a position different from the Sheriff's so the dogs may not be returned to the owner...Will keep you posted. Janis

I am looking for a link to this update.
So am I!
UPDATE - http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/articles/dogs-117267-county-custod...

They have not been returned to the owners and are investigating for animal cruelty. That's great news.
Good! Now lets pray that they will never return the poor dogs back. It is an animal cruelty case.
UPDATE: http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/articles/case-117418-dog-gets.html

They still haven't given back the dogs. Good!
Something wrong there... It doesn't take that long to see that they were very bad owners... Thanks for the update Lynne
I know! Something is not smelling right here.
I like that expression... «something is not smelling right»! it say exactly what it is...
Thank goodness that the animals right people are involve and look at it with "eagle eyes
".

RSS

Have a Comment or Question?

Oodlesofdoodles-rescue@yahoo.com

 

COME FOSTER WITH US CLICK FOR FOSTER APPLICATION

© 2024   - Created, January 19, 2009 by LM Fowler - Admin.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

Oodles of Doodles Rescue, Inc - 501(c)(3) Non-Profit

Oodle ~ Poodle ~ Doodle ~ Fuzzy Critter Rescue / Rehome

THIS is The Original Doodle Rescue Collective Website, since Jan. 2009

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~