Bexar County, Texas – A Texas man is facing a felony animal cruelty charge for the fatal beating of a family member’s puppy. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office identifies Michael Ruperto Uriegas as the man who killed a puppy named Ruger.

According to the authorities, Uriegas was “angry that the small dog had urinated on him and he threw the puppy into the kennel.”

But Ruger did not die because of a simple throw into the kennel – a necropsy on his little body revealed the brutal truth. He has been viciously beaten. The authorities describe the extensive trauma to the puppy’s body, writing “it was found that the dog had multiple injuries all over his body. The cause of death determined by the necropsy reported that there was blunt force trauma to 5 different areas of Ruger’s body.”

BCSO deputies issued a warrant for Michael Uriegas’ arrest on April 11, 2022, and Uriegas was subsequently arrested shortly after for Cruelty to Non-livestock Torture/Kill, a 3rd-degree felony.

What type of man can brutally beat a small puppy? What else is this man capable of? People who are aware of this deadly incident are heartbroken and outraged, and they want justice.

We need your support to put Michael Ruperto Uriegas away for the maximum amount of time. What he did should not receive a slap on the wrist plea deal; we want to ensure that the court knows that we care about this case! Please add your name to the petition today.

We the undersigned demand that Michael Ruperto Uriegas is held responsible for this brutal and deadly attack on an innocent puppy. We are petitioning for Uriegas to receive the maximum punishment allowable by law and to be prohibited from owning or residing with animals in the future.

Note: Individuals are presumed innocent until being found guilty in a court of law. Animal Victory relies upon the authorities and the court system to determine guilt or innocence.

News:

Bexar County Sheriff’s Office news release via Facebook

News 4 San Antonio

KWTX News

Update 8/17/2022: The trial begins on September 1, 2022

Update 5/20/2022: Animal Victory has learned that the case is in the process of being assigned to one of four attorneys in the ‘Criminal Trial Division’ in the 3999 court district. We have been informed that the case has not been assigned a date, and because the defendant is out on bond, it will most likely be a while before a date is set or a prosecutor is assigned.

Update 5/9/2022: As of today, the prosecutor has not assigned this case to anyone. The pre-hearing is scheduled to take place on 5/10/2022. Animal Victory has sent 16,947 signatures to the prosecuting attorney.