A 22-year-old woman is facing an animal cruelty charge after deputies found her severely underweight dog living on a feces-covered balcony without food or water.
SAN ANTONIO — A 22-year-old woman was arrested on an animal cruelty charge after deputies found a severely underweight dog living on an apartment balcony, authorities said.
On Wednesday, Bexar County deputies responded to the 5500 block of Mansion Bluff after receiving a report of a dog left outside on a balcony. Upon arrival, they spoke with the dog’s owner, Giovanni Leija, who said she had owned the dog for about five years.
Leija told deputies she fed the dog each morning before going to work and that the animal was typically kept inside. However, she said the dog remained on the patio while she was away.
Inside the apartment, deputies observed a male pit bull/boxer mix that appeared severely underweight, with visible ribs and hip bones. On the patio, authorities found two empty, dry bowls and numerous piles of feces, indicating the dog had been confined there for an extended period.
An animal control officer with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office examined the dog and confirmed it was underweight. The officer estimated the dog to be about 6 to 7 years old, noting gray hair around its muzzle.
Deputies said the dog’s physical condition, along with the state of the patio and lack of food and water, indicated neglect. Authorities also said Leija admitted she had forgotten to feed the dog.
Leija was arrested and booked into the Bexar County Adult Detention Center on a charge of animal cruelty.