El Paso deputies arrested two men in connection with animal cruelty charges after dogs were found severely malnourished, authorities said.
Deputies arrested Emanuel Guillermo Torres Aguilar, 29, and Manuel Salazar Jr., 40, in unrelated animal cruelty cases in late May, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Priscilla I. Contreras announced in news releases.
“Animals depend on their owners for proper care, food, water and shelter,” El Paso County Sheriff Oscar Ugarte said in a statement. “When those basic needs are neglected, we will work with our Animal Welfare partners to investigate and hold those responsible accountable. Protecting vulnerable animals remains a priority for our office.”
El Paso deputies find dogs tied to heavy chains, malnourished
El Paso County Sheriff’s Office deputies and El Paso County Animal Welfare officers responded to a report of a suspected animal cruelty case involving multiple dogs on Tuesday, May 26, at a home in the 12700 block of Montana Avenue in far East El Paso.
Investigators found three dogs living outside in poor conditions with inadequate shelter, limited access to food and water, and restrained by heavy chains, a news release states. One dog was confined in a small wire cage, exposed to direct sunlight and without water.
Two of the dogs appeared malnourished, the news release states.
“For their safety and well-being, all three dogs were removed from the property and taken into the care of Animal Welfare,” the news release states.
Deputies obtained three arrest warrants for Torres Aguilar on three counts of cruelty to non-livestock animals.
Torres voluntarily surrendered at the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office East Montana Patrol Station, the news release states. He was booked into the El Paso County jail on three charges on Friday, May 29, on a bond totaling $6,000. He remains jailed as of Monday, June 1, jail records show.
El Paso pit bull found severely malnourished
Deputies responded to an animal cruelty investigation about 10:25 a.m. on Tuesday, May 25, in the 13300 block of Estancia de Misiones Street in San Elizario, a sheriff’s office news release states.
The deputies found a medium-sized, mixed-breed pit bull in “extremely poor physical condition,” the news release states. The dog appeared severely malnourished, with visible ribs, spine and hip bones.
“The animal was significantly underweight, lethargic, and had difficulty moving without assistance,” the news release states.
Deputies arrested Salazar, the owner of the dog, on suspicion of cruelty to non-livestock animals. He was booked into the El Paso County jail on Monday, May 25, on a $2,000 bond. He posted bail and was released from jail on Wednesday, May 27, jail records show.
Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: ‘Severely malnourished:’ El Paso men arrested in animal cruelty cases
Reporting by Aaron Martinez, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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