A San Antonio officer is under investigation after leaving a dog behind during an arrest, sparking community action.
SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio police officer is under investigation after a dog was left behind when its owner was taken into custody over the weekend, according to the San Antonio Police Department.
Video circulating on social media shows the dog chasing after a patrol vehicle as it drives away with the owner inside.
The woman who recorded the video, Emily Casso, said she did not see anyone — including Animal Care Services — come to pick up the dog.
Casso said she was in her car Sunday when she saw the dog circling a police cruiser before running after it as it pulled away.
“I was very, very scared that the dog was just going to get hit,” Casso said. “I just wanted the dog to be found. I felt very uncomfortable knowing he was lost on his own.”
Casso later shared the video on social media with the help of her friends and the local podcast “210 La Chismosa.” The video quickly gained attention.
“Somebody has to know where it’s at — it’s the Southside,” she said. “It just blew up.”
Casso and her friends, identified as Cecilia and Michelle, offered a reward and began searching the area where the dog was last seen on Sunday near South New Braunfels Avenue and East Southcross Boulevard.
“Me and her were combing the streets, looking around,” one of the women said. “He could’ve fallen into the wrong hands.”
During a live episode of their podcast on Monday night, they received word that the dog had been found.
“They found the dog — we’re going to go rescue him,” one of the women said during the broadcast.
The dog, now named Rusty, was located near a Burger Boy restaurant not far from where he was last seen with his owner. Cecilia said she immediately picked him up.
“I got the dog. I’m taking it home,” she said. “I didn’t want to leave it there because I didn’t know what was going on.”
She said Rusty “melted” into their arms once inside the car. By 2 a.m. Tuesday, the group had secured a foster home for him.
While Rusty’s story ended with him safe, the women said they believe the situation raises larger concerns.
“To see an officer leave a dog behind — we need to do something about it, and someone needs to be held accountable,” Casso said.
In a statement, the San Antonio Police Department said it has procedures specific to animal care when an owner is taken into custody and that it takes those responsibilities seriously. The department said an investigation is underway to determine whether the officer violated policy.
Police later told KENS 5 that, due to privacy laws, they could not provide additional details about what happened involving the owneron Sunday afternoon, other than confirming that a welfare check was called in around 2 p.m.
Now safe in a foster home, Rusty’s rescue was driven by strangers who refused to let him remain alone, a response supporters say underscores the loyalty dogs show their owners and the responsibility people have in return.
Casso also wants to remind everyone to spay and neuter their animals. She volunteers with Spay Neuternet, which provides mobile services across the area for anyone who needs to spay or neuter their animal.