Law enforcers cracking down on animal abuse cases
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

Two people were jailed on animal cruelty charges last week, arrests in line with recent changes in pet-related state laws.

According to El Campo Police Lt. Terry Stanphill, two people were leaving a convenience store on Jan. 28 when from the road they saw two dogs, each around 30 pounds., tied up in a narrow space between a house and a fence. They also saw a weight tied behind one of the dog's necks.

Those people called police, who went to the scene.

"One dog had a 2-pound weight tied on its neck," Stanphill said. "Only one had water, and neither had food. One was chained where water was leaking from the house, so it was constantly wet, a big mud hole. So we took custody of the dogs."

He said the animals appeared full grown, but young. They were taken to the El Campo Animal Control Facility.

Stanphill arrested Savannah Lynn Rodriguez, 25, and Pablo Hernandez Marquez, 24, both of 107 E. West, each on a misdemeanor warrant for cruelty to animals. Both were taken to Wharton County Jail, then released Tuesday on $1,500 bond each.

Stanphill said he was told the owners had been out of dog food for 48 hours, and said both dogs appeared to be malnourished.

Assistant District Attorney Ross Kurtz works animal welfare cases with the Wharton County Sheriff's Office as well as the El Campo and Wharton police departments.

"We're starting to get very serious with animal cruelty laws and that's a message I want people to hear," Kurtz said.He said the most recent legislature made some changes to animal laws that might not yet be widely known.

First, cruelty to non-livestock animals, which includes feral cats and stray dogs, is either a Class A misdemeanor or a state jail felony.

"If you have a dog either held with a pinch or choke collar, or one not properly fitted and choking the dog, or a leash or rope that's considered too short, or if you keep them outside without shelter when it's under 32 degrees, or during a weather or heat advisory, or if it's between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., you can't leave them alone outside without shelter," Kurtz said.

"And it now can be committed 'recklessly,' meaning if you don't feed or properly care for your dog - even if you didn't mean to be cruel - it's now an offense."

"Whether you're the owner or not, you can still be charged with a crime," Kurtz said. "Some people think if it's your own dog, you have the right to do what you want with it. Being the owner doesn't give you an excuse to torture or be cruel to the animal. I'm not talking about any current case, but if you do something the law defines as torture, you're looking at a state jail felony."

Kurtz said the new laws have given his office and law enforcers more tools to crack down on irresponsible pet owners.

"We want people to know we aren't going to tolerate animal cruelty anymore," he said.

If you are aware of possible animal cruelty, call your appropriate law enforcement agency: El Campo PD at 543-5311, Wharton PD at 532-3131 or the Wharton County Sheriff's Department at 532-1550 or 543-1373. You may also report such cases anonymously to West Wharton County Crime Stoppers at 543-TIPS (543- 8477).