AUSTIN, Texas — Two men are in jail Wednesday, facing multiple charges after more than a dozen dead dogs were found in a south Austin creek earlier this year.
An investigation by Austin Police revealed dozens of more dead dogs in a freezer.
In April, Austin Police responded to a call in South Austin where a real estate agent found more than a dozen dead dogs behind a recently-sold home. Court documents say in total, 15 dogs were pulled from South Boggy Creek, some wrapped in pet pee pads or trash bags and surrounded by litter.
Executive Director of the Texas Humane Legislative Network Shelby Bobosky says that’s sad enough…
“It’s incredibly bizarre and suspicious,” Bobosky said. “When you see that number of animals, it definitely needs a strong, long investigation.”
Now court documents are revealing the investigation led police to the new property of the previous owners. Located in Milam County, officers there found 33 more dead dogs of similar breed, size, and color in a freezer and similarly wrapped in trash bags and pet pee pads.
61-year-old Fred Riess and 51-year-old Rafael Cantu Baez-Riess are facing a charge of intentional or knowing discharge. It’s a third-degree felony related to the pollution of a waterway and punishable by up to ten years in prison.
They’ve also both been charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty, though animal cruelty can rise to a first-degree felony in Texas.
“We have a great animal cruelty law, but also there are so many challenges,” Bobosky said. “When it boils down to our witnesses can’t speak, those that can sometimes recant their testimony.”
ALSO| Manor ISD leaders discuss safety improvements with parents, following deadly stabbing
According to court documents, the men told police there was some kind of incident involving bees, and the dead dogs were kept in the freezer until they could afford cremation. It’s unclear how the dogs ended up in the creek, but Bobosky hopes the investigation continues.
“At the end of the day, even if it was considered a dumping ground… we need to take that seriously because when our pets are safe, our communities are safe,” Bobosky said.
In the meantime, she hopes others will remain as vigilant and vocal as the real estate agent who triggered the investigation.
“If they suspect animal cruelty, to say something and report it,” Bobosky said. “It might be nothing, but it could be something.”
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
