An anonymous phone tip led law enforcement officers to a home where six pitbull dogs were confiscated from their owner - a city of Tyler Animal Control officer.
Smith County Constable Frank Creath said the caller stated that one of the dogs was out of a fenced area and could not reach water or food, but when his deputy arrived on the scene Tuesday afternoon she found a much larger problem.
"From the road you could see the animals' ribs and that there was no food or water present," Deputy Natalie Smith stated.
Deputy Smith said she was looking the situation over with other officers when a woman came out of the home and said her husband, a animal control officer with Tyler, was on his way home.
"I was surprised to find out these dogs were in the care of an animal control officer. They had no food or water and were on these massive logging type chains. The dogs' ribs and spines were showing," she said.
Creath said Cesar Alvarez told him that the dogs did have water, but they must have turned over during the day, but Creath said that did not explain why the dogs were malnourished.
"The chains those dogs were on are used to increase muscle mass for fighting. That is what this breed of dog is bred for," he said.
Creath said Alvarez was issued citations totaling more than $1,000, but he was not arrested. The six dogs were euthanized late Tuesday night.
"He was very cooperative and even transported three of the dogs to the Smith County Humane Society for us. It is not unusual for us not to arrest someone who is being cooperative, but he did not get off scot-free," he said.
Tyler Animal Control Supervisor Gary Chambers said he was currently investigating the accusations against Alvarez, who is still on the job. Case UpdatesA Tyler animal control officer, Cesar Alvarez, is fired, after a Smith County constable finds signs of animal cruelty at his own home.
On Tuesday, the constable removed six pit bulls chained in Cesar Alvarez's backyard. The constable said they were underweight and without food and water.
Constable Frank Creath fined Alvarez for not having proof of rabies vaccines. Alvarez denied he did anything wrong. His supervisor disagreed.
"An investigation was done of the incident, review was made, and the decision was made to terminate his employment with the Health District," Gary Chambers, of Tyler Animal Control, said. "Tyler Animal Control officers are held to at least the same standard as citizens are, in terms of being in compliance with the law, and actually, have to be held to a higher standard."
Constable Creath says no criminal charges will be filed.
The national animal rights group PETA sent a letter to Chambers, asking for his termination. | Source: KLTV
Update posted on May 3, 2005 - 8:17AM |
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