Driver, supervisor fired after picture of dog goes viral

abc-seven listening to a viewer’s complaint … and we know it’s about to generate a big discussion. this viewer sent a picture, saying it was taken of: ” … a guy driving a work vehicle in El Paso with an unsecured dog in the back of a flat bed. It is a disgrace to all animal lovers and he should be fired.” abc-seven’s stephanie valle got in touch with the business now feeling backlash since the picture was posted on social media. and she learned the picture isn’t the only thing raising eyebrows; this photo was sent to me last week — it shows the dog standing by the back of the cab — no leash keeping it from jumping or falling off the back of the flatbed. you can also clearly see the name of the company on the side of the truck — five star automatic fire protection. “We visited Five Star to spea with the company about the picture. They didn’t want to talk on camera, but Veronica Palacios, the vice president of the company, told me they were very saddened by the photo and the employee was terminated.” palacios told me off camera — the dog belongs to the driver of the truck. the moment they got word of the incident, which was minutes after the photo was posted online — palacios told me she called the driver and had him pull over immediately. palacios said the supervisor, who was in the truck, was also fired — because he “should have known better. five star posted a statement on its facebook page — in part, saying the “deplore the conduct” of the former employees. and “All of ou employees have been counseled about the need to avoid endangering any animals in the course of their duties.” animal services got involved — but the driver won’t be arrested, charged, or fined. turns out — there is no city ordinance prohibiting you from driving with an animal on an open or flat-bed! spokesman ramon herrera told abc-seven — the city is looking to add language to the animal ordinance — to require animals be properly restrained and kenneled while in a moving vehicle. sv, abc-7. if you want to learn more about the proposed revisions to title 7, the city’s animal ordinance — there will be a meeting thursday — at 5:30 in the evening at the animal services center in northeast el paso. the former juarez police chief known for standing up to