Texas Man Arrested for Fatally Hitting Small Dog in Brownsville

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A shocking incident of animal cruelty has resulted in the arrest of a 39-year-old Texas man. Benjamin Aguilar was charged with cruelty to a non-livestock animal resulting in death, according to a press release from the Brownsville Police Department.

The incident occurred on Sunday, December 24, when authorities responded to an animal cruelty investigation at Kanino Dog Grooming in Brownsville. The owner of a Yorkie informed the police that he had dropped off his dog at the groomer. Shortly after, Aguilar, an employee of the grooming salon, called the owner and asked him to return because the Yorkie had fainted.

Suspicious of the situation, the owner demanded to see surveillance video footage of the incident. The video revealed Aguilar hitting the small dog in the stomach and grabbing her by the neck, causing her to faint. The Brownsville Police Department stated that Aguilar admitted to using excessive force and hitting the dog in response to her aggression.

Brownsville Animal Control reviewed the footage and determined that Aguilar had indeed used excessive force in handling the dog. As a result, he was arrested and taken to the Brownsville City Jail. Aguilar was arraigned on Monday and given a bond of $8,000.

The owners of Kanino Dog Grooming have not responded to requests for comment regarding the incident.