A Las Vegas man is out on bail after a video surfaced of him tossing a Chihuahua into a dumpster, igniting public fury and prompting calls for harsher animal cruelty laws. According to FOX5 Vegas, 30-year-old Alexis Flores was released from Clark County jail after paying $50 to a bondsman, against a $9,000 bail set by the Las Vegas Justice Court.
Flores, who was caught on neighborhood surveillance video handling the dog roughly and disposing of it as if it were mere refuse, was arrested and granted release in less than 24 hours, "It's just—it's quite shocking that people behave that way," said Brandon Abbe, a local resident reported by KTNV.
After being discovered by a neighbor, the Chihuahua named Atreyu was rescued by Vegas Pet Rescue Project and is currently recovering from an intestinal parasite, possibly contracted from its 24-hour ordeal in the dumpster. "The individual’s brother apparently owns him, but I’ve got questions and I have concerns because this dog was missing for over 24 hours. Where were you looking for him? How would you not know your dog was gone?” asked Lindsey Pinapfel, a volunteer with the rescue, in an interview with FOX5 Vegas.
Pinapfel also highlighted the need for more stringent laws, saying "It's a little disheartening to see that three felony counts allow you to just be able to walk free," she stated, citing the case as an example that current laws fall short and advocating for "Reba's Law," which would impose tougher penalties in cases of animal cruelty that do not result in death, according to her comments to KTNV. Flores, who has a criminal history in Clark County dating back to 2013 with charges ranging from felony drug cases to domestic battery, now faces three felony animal cruelty charges and is due back in court on June 2nd.
