SAN ANTONIO — Police are investigating their own officers after a man was taken into custody while his dog was allegedly left behind, prompting concern from witnesses and widespread attention on social media.
Emily Casso captured the incident on video Sunday afternoon near East Southcross Boulevard and South New Braunfels Avenue. The clip quickly gained thousands of views and hundreds of shares on Facebook.
Casso said she was getting gas when she noticed two police vehicles and a dog circling nearby.
“It wasn’t until I parked that I heard the dog whining, and when I looked, the guy was already in the backseat,” she said. “The cop car left the gas station and the dog started chasing him, and then the other cop just left.”
She said the dog ran off before she could catch it, prompting her to post the video online.
Cecilia Chavez, who manages the Facebook group “210 La Chismosa,” reshared the video after seeing it.
“I was almost in tears,” Chavez said. “I couldn’t believe it, so I shared it immediately.”
By Monday night, members of the group had located the dog, taken it in, and secured a temporary foster home. Chavez said the dog is currently “decompressing.”
A San Antonio Police Department spokesperson told KSAT the initial call involved a welfare check but declined to identify the person taken into custody, citing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which restricts the release of medical information.
In a Facebook post Tuesday, the department said it is investigating “whether the officers violated policy.”
“SAPD has procedures specific to animal care when their owner is taken into custody, and we take these responsibilities seriously,” the department said. “If we determine that policy violations occurred, the officers will be disciplined in accordance with our policies and procedures.”
Animal Care Services confirmed its team was not involved in the incident.
Casso and Chavez said they do not know the identity of the man but hope he will soon be reunited with his dog.
“I do think (SAPD) really does need to take on accountability,” Casso said.
She added that the situation highlights the importance of responsible pet ownership.
“I got emotional watching that dog,” she said. “I don’t even know how the owner might have felt inside the cop car.”
KSAT later met Casso and Chavez at a pickup site for the Spay Neuter Network, where Casso serves as a District 3 ambassador working with Animal Care Services to provide free spay and neuter services and affordable vaccinations.
“It’s really important that people start normalizing responsible ownership with their pets,” Casso said. “Be responsible, get them fixed, and take care of your pets.”
