SAN ANTONIO – A 47-year-old man is facing a felony charge after investigators say he beat his French bulldog to death and buried the dog’s body in the backyard of a Bexar County home.
Deputies were called just after 4 p.m. Thursday to a home off Amberina near Marbach Road on the Far West Side after receiving a report of possible animal cruelty. The caller told authorities a man had repeatedly struck a dog before burying it.
When deputies arrived, they spoke with a witness who identified the suspect as Erik Estrada.
According to investigators, Estrada became involved in a disturbance on Wednesday and grew angry before repeatedly striking his 2-year-old French bulldog in the head. Investigators said the dog was then left outside for several hours.
The dog’s condition worsened over time and it died from its injuries early the following morning, according to investigators.
Authorities said Estrada buried the dog in the backyard, where deputies later located the animal’s remains during the investigation.
Estrada was arrested and charged with cruelty to a non-livestock animal torture, a third-degree felony.
Officials encourage anyone who witnesses or suspects animal cruelty to report it to the Bexar County Animal Crime Enforcement Unit by emailing ACE@bexar.org or calling (210) 335-6000.