A 22-year-old woman was arrested Friday after deputies said they found a starving dog confined to a balcony on San Antonio's North Side, surrounded by piles of feces and with nothing to eat.
The male pit bull-boxer mix was so thin that his ribs and hip bones were clearly visible. An animal control officer later confirmed he was underweight and in poor condition. Deputies said the patio held two empty dry food bowls and numerous piles of feces. The owner told investigators she had forgotten to feed the dog.
Arrest and grim scene
According to KENS‑TV, deputies with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office went to the 5500 block of Mansion Bluff for a welfare check. When they arrived, they found the emaciated dog inside the apartment and out on the patio and identified the owner as 22-year-old Giovanni Leija.
Deputies said the dog’s living space was filthy, with feces scattered across the balcony and no accessible food. Leija was taken into custody at the scene and booked on an animal cruelty charge.
Dog's condition
An animal control officer estimated the dog to be about 6 to 7 years old and described his condition as "severely underweight," with prominent ribs and hip bones, deputies said. The officer also noted the two dry food bowls on the patio and the numerous piles of feces nearby, consistent with the initial observations from deputies.
Charges and what comes next
Leija was booked into the Bexar County Adult Detention Center on an animal cruelty charge, according to deputies. The case will be reviewed by prosecutors, who will decide whether to file formal charges and set bond.
How to report animal neglect
People who see animals in immediate danger inside San Antonio city limits are asked to call 311 or contact San Antonio Animal Care Services. For incidents outside city limits, contact the Bexar County Sheriff's Office.
