Florida: Emilio Garcia, 25, Accused Of Animal Cruelty After Neighbors Complaints

FLORIDA -- A 25-year-old man already out of jail on a felony charge for operating a chop shop and was re-arrested on Wednesday when neighbors called police concerned about a dying dog in his backyard.

Police arrested Emilio Garcia and added the charge of Animal Cruelty.

He appeared before a judge Thursday afternoon who held him on $5,000 bond and added that he would not be able to post bond right away until he saw the judge overseeing his first case.

Neighbors described the dog as being chained to a fence and that the dog appeared to be dead.

“The dog just couldn’t move. Nothing but bones. All his gums and tongue was pure white like he hasn’t eaten in God knows how long,” neighbor John Gilman told CBS4’s Lauren Pastrana.

Cell phone video shows the dog lying on his side, unable to lift his head when called. He was, however, wagging his tail.

“It was starving, his tongue and gums were white. The dog was skin and bones,” Alyssa Espinoza said.

Espinoza explained she and another neighbor, a 911 operator, entered the  yard at the home along SW 164 Terrace and removed the dog from the property, then called police and animal services.

“It was horrible,” neighbor Shawntae McSween said. “It smelled like something was dead."

The owner of the dog happened to arrive not long after cops did.

Turns out, the he’s been in trouble before.

Garcia was recently arrested on charges of operating a chop shop and grand theft.

Garcia appeared before a judge Thursday on a new charge of animal cruelty with intent to injure or kill.

The animal lovers who rushed to the dog’s rescue have some strong feelings about the man accused of leaving this dog to die.

“They should be left to die and starve like that, that’s how I feel,” Espinoza said.

“It’s just terrible,” Gilman echoed. “The way I felt, they should do the same to these people that they did to this dog.”

The director of Miami-Dade Animal Services confirms there’s a complaint history at the home, but did not have the details of the calls available at press time.

She said the dog remains in critical condition.

He needed a blood transfusion and is receiving supportive veterinary care.

(CBS Local - Aug 28, 2014)