‘Horrendous’ discovery: Dead, skinned dog found in west El Paso trash dumpster

A dead dog that had been skinned was thrown inside a garbage dumpster outside a Sally Beauty’s Supply store, and across from an Albertsons grocery store, near Redd Road and Interstate 10 in west El Paso.

Police and El Paso Animal Services confirmed the incident Thursday to ABC-7, which nearby residents called a “horrendous” discovery.

ABC-7 spoke to a Sally’s store employee who said she was taking the trash out to the dumpster around 5 p.m. Wednesday when she saw a man throw a bag inside and drive off in a car, only to discover a dog inside that bag.

The woman, who asked not to be identified, said she did not know the severity of the dog’s injuries. When Animals Services officers arrived at the scene, they told her the dog was deceased and had been severely harmed.

The store employee did not offer a description of the man she witnessed dumping the dog to ABC-7 but said she did provide the description to police.

Police Sgt. Enrique Carrillo said EPPD’s Animal Cruelty Task Unit was investigating the death of the adult dog, who he confirmed had been skinned. He could not immediately provide additional details.

A necropsy, the animal version of an autopsy, on the dog was still pending.

Surveillance cameras appeared to be just out of slight of Sally Beauty’s Supply. There is a surveillance camera at the Albertsons adjacent to Sally’s, but according to a grocery store employee, the camera does not have a view of the dumpster’s location.

ABC-7 could not find any other visible security cameras that would’ve had a clear view of the street where the dumpster is located.

Police said the severity of the charges in this case would depend on the necropsy results. The person responsible for the dog’s death might only face a fine for illegal dumping, a class C misdemeanor or third degree felony depending on a variety of factors still unknown.

Residents in the area were upset to learn what had happened on their street.

“It just amazes me that broad daylight somebody would do something like that,” said David Patterson, a west Side resident. “It’s something to keep your eye open for in the future.”

Patterson who has a dog at home, said he would be crazy if something like that happened to his pet.

“What kind of a statement would you try to make in doing something like that,” Patterson said. “It’s just horrendous as far as I’m concerned. I’m just pretty much at a loss.”

Other residents like Thomas Mittelsdorf agreed.

“I just don’t think there’s any conscious for someone that does something like that, I really don’t,” Mittelsdorf said. “Every animal that we have, they are our treasure on this earth.”