Mario Cardona, a 59-year-old man, sparked outrage when he cruelly dragged his German Shepherd along theground behind his motorized scooter.The Mission, Texas, resident was caught in the act and recorded by his neighbour Melissa Torrez, who was shocked by what she saw and attempted to stop Cardona. She tells KGBT:
He just keeps going, telling me to mind my own business, it's his dog and he can do whatever he wants.
Source: Doginton Post
Unable to help the 10 month old puppy at the time, Torrez decided to post her video on Facebook, where it gained a huge response and quickly went viral. The local police were then alerted to the way that G2 (the name of the German Shepherd) had been abused and they immediately started an investigation.Within 24 hours of the video being posted, Cardona had been charged with animal cruelty and the puppy had been taken into the care of Mission Animal Control. Luckily, she was deemed to be generally healthy, although slightly underweight.
Source: The Mirror
When the case came to court, Cardona's wife Rosa, argued that the dog was under her care, and that she was not aware that her husband had taken her dog.She also insisted that the puppy was underweight as her three other dogs took G2's food, and that she had not been vaccinated as the couple were not able to afford it. Rosa also added that her husband suffers from PTSD and depression.
Source: Life With Dogs
Ultimately, the judge ruled that the German Shepherd was to be taken out of their care and put up for adoption. Cardona is now being held in jail on a$10,000 bond.
Source: Life With Dogs
Fortunately, G2's story has a happy ending, and she quickly found her forever home with the 'cowboy priest', Father Roy Snipes of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, and nine other rescue dogs. Father Roy is also a resident of Mission, Texas, and Mario Cardona was in fact a member of his congregation. He told KGBT:
There's more goodness in him than he even realizes. But he's a roughneck. I don't think he ever really wanted to hurt his dog.
Source: Pet Rescue Report
Snipes also renamed his new puppy Ceniza, which is the spanish word for ashes, in honour of Ash Wednesday and added that he often takes his dogs to church with him:
I'm sure this Sunday everybody is going to want to see her. So if she's calmed down enough I'll bring her into mass with me.
You can read up more about animal cruelty laws in the United States and in Canada here.You can also visit PETA and pledge to be cruelty-free.
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Groomer Who Beat And Kicked Client’s Dog Sentenced To 2 Years’ Probation
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