EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — A 73-year-old El Paso man with a history of animal abuse has been indicted after he was arrested in August for allegedly beating and choking a puppy, according to court records and police.
On Sept. 1, Carlos Jose Fernandez was indicted on two counts of cruelty to a non-livestock animal.
Mugshot of Carlos Jose Fernandez. Credit: EPPD
RELATED: El Paso man with a history of animal cruelty arrested again for allegedly beating puppy
Fernandez was arrested in August after the El Paso Police Department said its Animal Cruelty Unit investigated an incident from July 8 involving a 2-month-old puppy boxer mix named “Harmony.”
The arrest affidavit stated the incident happened around 5:45 p.m. near the bus stop in the 600 block of Mesita, near Kern Place in West El Paso. According to the investigation, witnesses saw Fernandez drag and kick the puppy across hot pavement before choking the dog by pulling on its collar for five to six seconds, then putting the puppy inside a shopping bag.
Police said a veterinarian examined the puppy and found burns on all four paws and a fractured rib. Police said Fernandez voluntarily gave up ownership and the puppy was surrendered to El Paso Animal Services.
Paw showing burn injury. Credit: EPPD via Instagram
EPPD said Fernandez was also cited for an animal-related offense involving the unlawful possession of a canine because he is not allowed to have animals after previous animal-cruelty convictions.
Court records show Fernandez was convicted in 2015, when he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months in prison. He was convicted again in 2024 and sentenced to five years, but that sentence was suspended and he was given five years of community service.
RELATED: El Paso puppy with burned paws and a fractured rib finds new home after recovery
The puppy was later adopted by a new family and renamed “Darcy De La Rosa.” KFOX14/CBS4 spoke with the puppy’s new owner, Marcia De La Rosa, who described deciding to take the dog in.
“I was there to take my senior dog for shots, and the technician was talking about this little puppy who needed to go to a foster home, and without even seeing her, I said, I’ll take her. And they looked at me, and they said, ‘You don’t even know what she looks like.’ I said it doesn’t matter. She was abused, and I’ll just take her, so that’s how she ended up in my home,” De La Rosa said.
El Paso puppy with burned paws and a fractured rib finds new home after recovery (Credit: KFOX14/CBS4)
“She’s a very happy dog, and she’s easy to train, but she gets bored really easily, and if she doesn’t like you know, when we play fetch, she walks away. She loves people and kitties, and my senior dog at first was not very happy, but now they’re best friends,” she said.
A person identified as Ramirez said the dog has recovered but is still adjusting. “She is a little wary about walking with the leash, but it’s understandable given the experience and the traumatizing events that she had. But with a lot of love and patience that mama’s giving her, she’s really, really good,” Ramirez said.
El Paso puppy with burned paws and a fractured rib finds new home after recovery (Credit: KFOX14/CBS4)
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