South Texas man charged after video of animal cruelty captured goes viral

Content warning: This story covers animal abuse and includes a link to the video, which some readers may find disturbing.

A South Texas man is behind bars after a video of him abandoning multiple dogs went viral across social media. The man was located, but after one of the dogs left had been euthanized due to its injuries. 

David Olivarez, 42, was taken into custody by the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office in connection with the abandonment on Wednesday, March 20. He is facing charges of animal cruelty non-livestock animal abandonment, according to HCSO.

The video quickly grabbed the attention of social media users as one of the dogs appeared to be injured with some form of paralysis. Footage of the incident showed the dog dragging its back two legs as it fell out of the vehicle. HCSO investigators say the dog has since been euthanized due to its injuries. 

Investigators say they identified Olivarez as the man on the video Tuesday, March 19. The next day, officials obtained a warrant and took Olivarez into custody, booking him into the county jail. 

Since the viral incident, local rescue groups have emphasized the importance of seeking guidance when wanting to surrender a dog.

“We have a problem here in South Texas. A problem that can only be fixed if we work together. This is a reminder to please stop dumping animals, and instead seek guidance on ways to help your situation.” said Yaqui Animal Rescue Group in a statement.