'Discarded animal remains' found by Caldwell County deputy; officials seeking tips
Animal remains dumped in Caldwell County
A Caldwell County Constable's deputy made a rather "disturbing discovery" on patrol over the weekend: discarded animal remains.
CALDWELL COUNTY, Texas - A Caldwell County Constable's deputy made a rather "disturbing discovery" on patrol over the weekend.
What we know:
The Caldwell County Constable's Office for Precinct 4 shared on Facebook on July 26 that one of its deputies was on patrol when they found multiple bags filled with discarded animal remains.
The bags were found on Barth Road and FM 672.
"They saw the bags on the side of the road, pulled over, took a picture, got close to it, he started to smell it, and that's when he noticed that there were remains," Sgt. Fred Salas said.
The remains were of two dogs, one of which was cut up in pieces. It's not clear how long they'd been there or if they were already dead when placed in bags. One dog was medium-sized, and the other was smaller.
"We got some kind of a description of the dogs, so we can drive into the neighborhoods. We might be able to get some idea of where that kind of dog came from," Salas said.
He says the person who is responsible could face charges of animal cruelty and illegal dumping.
What they're saying:
"The level of disregard and cruelty it takes to leave pets in bags on the side of the road is beyond heartbreaking. This is not just illegal—it’s inhumane," said the office in their post.
What you can do:
Anyone with any information on this is urged to contact the Caldwell County Constable Pct. 4's office at 737-355-2019.
Tips can be reported anonymously.
If you're having a hard time with your pets, check with shelters or give them up for adoption.
"There will be criminal charges if you are found dumping your dogs or cruelty to animals or anything like that," Salas said.
Illegal dumping in Caldwell County
Dig deeper:
Illegal dumping in this area of Caldwell County also seems to be a continuing issue.
The office has shared two other incidents of illegal dumping in the last week, one on Carter Road and one on County Road 400, and even hosted a community dump day in late June to help combat the issue.
What is illegal dumping?
According to the Travis County Sheriff's Office, illegal dumping can include:
- Dumping waste on public or private property not licensed or permitted to receive it
- Dumping waste into sewers or waterways without a license or permit
- Allowing someone else to dump waste on your property without being licensed or permitted to receive it
- Burning items that are illegal to burn in an attempt to dispose of them
According to Texas law, illegal dumping can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony based on a number of factors, including:
- Amount of waste
- Type of waste (including if it's considered hazardous)
- Whether you are an individual or a business
- Whether you are a repeat offender
Various Texas codes address illegal dumping, including the Texas Health & Safety Code, the Texas Water Code, and the Texas Transportation Code.
Depending on the charge and type of waste, those convicted can face fines of between $200 and $100,000 and between six months and five years in jail.
Animal cruelty, like illegal dumping, can also be a misdemeanor or felony.
"The penalties are there. So, once we get close to finding someone or we do find that person or persons involved, they will be prosecuted," Salas said.
The Source: Information in this report comes from the Caldwell County Constable's Office for Precinct 4 and the Travis County Sheriff's Office.