Police Investigate Animal Death In Northeast El Paso

By Troy Barrett

EL PASO — A pit bull chews through a crate in which it is confined only to die later at a home in Northeast El Paso.

Police and the Animal Cruelty Heartline of El Paso are investigating the death of the animal in the garage of a rental home. Property managers for the home found the female pit bull dead and immediately called police. They had gone to serve the renters with a notice of late rental payment.

They told investigators thecouple who lived there are in the Army and have not occupied the home in nearly a month. Investigatorsallege the dog had been abandoned, left inside a crate without food or water for an unknown period of time.

The dog chewed its way out of the crate, apparently in desperation, only to die in an open suitcase a few feet away.

“This poor dog here died a horrible death, he died of hunger and of thirst and probably a lot of desperation,” said Jesse Miller of A.C.H.E. The group said they will file charges against the couple.

The couple said they were transferred from Fort Bliss to Fort Hood and denied ever having had a dog. Police are still investigating.