Pharr Law Enforcement Find 33 Deceased Dogs in a U-Haul

PHARR – Law enforcement found 33 deceased dogs in a U-Haul; Animal Control investigated the apartment where the dogs were being held.

Frank Villarreal, supervisor for the City of Pharr Animal Control, says a tenant from VIP Estates called them last week.

The tenant was worried about constant barking, howling, and a bad smell coming from one of the apartments.

Animal Control tried to get in contact with the tenant in question several times, but no one answered.

“We went that day and nobody called us… We went again and nobody called us,” says Villarreal.

Villarreal says the landlord of the estates called and said he was aware the tenants had one or two dogs.

"There's not one or two, there's lots of them. You could hear them bark," he says.

Animal Control showed up again Wednesday but nobody answered the door; they no longer heard dogs barking.

According to the criminal complaint, a Pharr police officer conducted a traffic stop after receiving an anonymous tip about canines in the box portion of the truck.

Only one dog was found alive and is being treated by veterinarians.

The criminal complaint states Christina Arriaga and her husband planned to drive the dogs around until Animal Control left.

Arriaga was arrested for cruelty of animals and was released Thursday on a $30,000 bond.

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