Around 10:22 a.m., a deputy from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office responded to a call from a witness reporting the dog.
According to the MCSO report, the witness saw the suspect carrying the box on Saturday, Aug. 3, when the box fell to the street and a small brown and tan dog escaped.
The witness reported watching the suspect capture the dog, place it back in the box, secure the bindings and continue walking.
The witness noticed the tied-shut box sitting against his fence on Wednesday but did not investigate it until Friday when he detected a foul odor.
On further inspection, the witness could see the dog's nose poking out of the bottom of the box.
According to the report, the suspect was identified as Ricardo Ramirez Cupis.
After being interviewed by a Sheriff's deputy, Cupis, 59, admitted to [forcing his dog into the box and taping it shut] saying it was "very sick" and he did not want it to die at his house.
He was booked one felony animal cruelty charge.
(abc15.com - Aug 9 2013)
