Killeen, Texas Police Arrest Two for Torture and Burning of Puppy

Police in Killeen, Texas recently arrested two men suspected of beating and burning a pit bull mix puppy.

Killeen Men Accused of Monstrous Crime Against Small Animal

The arrest of two Killeen men, both 23, was made over the weekend, and both were being held in the Bell County Jail on $90,000 bond. Alex Manuel Soto Cruz and Keishaw Aquino-Rodriguez were booked on December 4. As of the afternoon of December 7, only Aquino-Rodriguez remained on the jail's roster.

What They're Accused of Doing is Inhuman

Killeen Police Department spokesman Alex Gearhardt told FOX44 News that the puppy was found alive on November 16 after being beaten, shot with an air gun, burned, then left for dead.

Police were called after someone reported a foul smell and hearing noises coming from a dumpster on East Hallmark in Killeen. The person opened a suitcase and found the puppy inside.

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Thankfully, The Puppy's Expected to Survive

Animal control showed up and took the puppy in for medical attention. A veterinarian who treated the puppy said there were extensive burns and head injuries. The puppy is being cared for by a rescue organization and is expected to survive.

Should Abused Animals Be Represented in Court?

Several pet advocate bills have been introduced across the country that would allow judges to appoint lawyers for abused pets.

The most recent is in New Jersey where the bill has already unanimously passed the Senate and is awaiting on an Assembly vote. If it's passed, lawyers could volunteer to be liaisons between the court and the abused animal as the case moves through the legal system.

Connecticut and Maine already have similar laws on the books.

New Pet Tethering Law in Texas

Although no such animal advocacy law exists in Texas, Governor Abbott did recently sign a dog tethering bill that will go into effect in January of 2022.

That law will make it illegal for dog owners to chain their dogs outside with a tether shorter than five times the length of the animal's body, while also stating that dog collars must be made of “material specifically designed to be placed around the neck of a dog.”

The new law also states that shelter must be provided to dogs in case of “inclement weather,” which includes “rain, hail, sleet, snow, high winds, extreme low temperatures, or extreme high temperatures.”

Of course, we really shouldn't even need a law for this, right? If you're going to have a dog and they're going to live outside, provide shelter for them and a reasonable amount of room to move around. Seems like common sense.