SPCA of Texas Receives Protective Custody of Dog from Animal Cruelty Investigation in Dallas

Madeline Yeaman Arnold
214-930-1438 (c)
myeaman@spca.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPCA OF TEXAS RECEIVES PROTECTIVE CUSTODY OF DOG FROM ANIMAL CRUELTY INVESTIGATION IN DALLAS DOG REMOVED FROM RESIDENCE OF SUSPECT CHARGED WITH FELONY ANIMAL CRUELTY

(DALLAS, TX); April 9, 2021 – On Friday, April 9, the SPCA of Texas received protective custody of a dog in Dallas involved in an ongoing animal cruelty investigation with the Dallas Police Department. The dog, a 5-year-old male Mixed Breed named Zeus, was transferred to the SPCA of Texas from Dallas Animal Services on Friday, April 9. The dog was removed from the residence of a suspect charged in an animal cruelty investigation with the Dallas Police Department after allegedly beating two Pyrenees mix puppies to death. The deceased puppies were transferred to the SPCA of Texas on Thursday, April 8, where the SPCA of Texas’ veterinarian performed necropsies and determined the causes of death were severe blunt force trauma to the head. The live dog, Zeus, is currently under protective custody and will be evaluated and cared for by medical staff at the SPCA of Texas during the ongoing investigation. He will then be evaluated for placement once the investigation is complete and the SPCA of Texas has been granted court-ordered custody.

On Wednesday, April 7, 2021, the SPCA of Texas received a call from the Dallas Police Department regarding two deceased puppies, found on Dowdy Ferry Road in Dallas, TX by the Dowdy Ferry Animal Commission. The Dowdy Ferry Animal Commission captured the suspect and the puppies on their cameras and provided this evidence to the Dallas Police Department. Early Friday morning, the suspect was identified as Sebastian Acosta, 20, of Mesquite, TX and arrested by the Dallas Police Department, charged with Cruelty to Non-Livestock Animals for “tortures an animal or in a cruel manner kills or causes serious bodily injury to an animal” which is a third-degree felony in the State of Texas.

The deceased puppies and the live dog were transferred to the SPCA of Texas from Dallas Animal Services pursuant to the current Memorandum of Understanding between the Dallas Police Department and the SPCA of Texas designed to bring animal cruelty perpetrators to justice. The Dallas Police Department and Dallas Animal Services work to receive and identify cases of animal cruelty in Dallas County, and the Dallas Police Department’s designated Animal Cruelty Detectives oversee the investigation of these cases. The SPCA of Texas provides expert testimony, evidence, housing, medical care, and then rehabilitates and rehomes once receiving final custody of the animals involved in these cases during the investigation.

To help support the SPCA of Texas and its efforts to help abused, neglected and homeless animals and to support the SPCA of Texas’ other programs and services, please visit www.spca.org/helptheanimals. To learn more about the SPCA of Texas, please visit our website at www.spca.org.