San Antonio Police Investigating After Dog Left Behind During Owner's Arrest

Witness video shows dog left behind as owner taken into custody, sparking internal probe.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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San Antonio police are investigating their own officers after a witness video showed a dog being left behind when its owner was taken into custody during a welfare check. The video, which has gone viral on social media, shows the dog circling the police vehicles and whining as the owner was placed in the backseat. The dog then ran off before a bystander could intervene. The police department has acknowledged the incident and said it is looking into whether officers violated policy regarding animal care when an owner is arrested.

Why it matters

This incident has sparked outrage in the local community and raised concerns about police protocols for handling pets when their owners are taken into custody. It highlights the need for clear policies and training to ensure the humane treatment of animals in such situations.

The details

According to the witness, Emily Casso, she was getting gas on Sunday afternoon when she saw two San Antonio Police Department vehicles and a dog circling around them. Casso said she heard the dog whining and saw the owner already in the backseat of one of the police cars, but the other officer just left the gas station with the dog still there. The dog then ran off before Casso could intervene. Casso posted the video to Facebook, where it quickly went viral and was reposted by local community group '210 La Chismosa'. By Monday, someone from the Facebook group had located the dog and placed it in a temporary foster home.

  • The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon near East Southcross Boulevard and South New Braunfels Avenue in San Antonio.
  • Casso posted the video to Facebook on Sunday, where it quickly gained thousands of views and hundreds of shares by Tuesday night.
  • By Monday night, the dog had been located and placed in a temporary foster home.

The players

Emily Casso

A witness who recorded a video of the incident and posted it to Facebook, where it went viral.

Cecilia Chavez

The administrator of the Facebook group '210 La Chismosa' who reposted Casso's video, sparking further outrage.

San Antonio Police Department

The law enforcement agency that is now investigating whether its officers violated policy in the handling of the dog during the owner's arrest.

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What they’re saying

“I was like almost in tears. I couldn't believe it, so I shared it immediately.”

— Cecilia Chavez, Administrator of '210 La Chismosa' Facebook group (Instagram)

“SAPD has procedures specific to animal care when their owner is taken into custody, and we take these responsibilities seriously. An investigation into whether the officers violated policy is currently underway. If we determine that policy violations occurred, the officers will be disciplined in accordance with our policies and procedures.”

— San Antonio Police Department (Facebook)

What’s next

The San Antonio Police Department has stated that an investigation is currently underway to determine if officers violated any policies in their handling of the dog during the owner's arrest. The department has said that if policy violations are found, the officers involved will be disciplined accordingly.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for clear and comprehensive policies regarding the care of pets when their owners are taken into custody by law enforcement. It also underscores the importance of police training and accountability to ensure the humane treatment of animals in such situations.