Texas School Principal Charged After Dog’s Leg Rots And Falls Off

[Panto]

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2013/11/texas-school-principal-charged-after-dogs-leg-rots-and-falls-off/

Texas School Principal Charged After Dog’s Leg Rots and Falls Off

[/url]By Tina Chen

Nov 6, 2013 3:41pmThe principal of a private school in Houston claims it is “unfair” that she is being charged with animal cruelty after her three small dogs were found to be in deplorable condition, including one dog whose injured leg appears to have rotted and fallen off.

Rosa Martinez, 57, was arrested Monday and charged with two counts of animal cruelty after she took the dogs to Houston’s Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care. A veterinarian at the center alerted police, according to court documents.

KTRK/ABC News

The worst off of the animals was a female brown and tan Maltese and poodle mix named Rainy, which had only two legs. Court documents say that Rainy was in a malnourished state and her left paw had exposed bones. The report also said that Rainy’s right rear leg appears to have rotted off after an injury had exposed about three inches of bone and it went untreated. A foul odor emanated from where the leg had been, the report said. It was unclear what had happened to the dog’s fourth leg.

In addition, the dog had thinning hair and hair loss over her mid to lower back, the court document stated.

Another white Maltese and poodle mix male was found suffering from a chronic ear infection and chronic staph infection, while a third dog was found severely underweight and suffering from sores, the report said.

Martinez told Police Officer Suzanne Hollifield that she had “over-committed herself to work and non-profit organizations.” She had “seen the dog limping but did not check on it,” she told the officer, according to the court document.

The officer also wrote in her report, “Defendant’s son had seen the dog on October 11, 2013 and told Defendant he could see the dog’s bone and that she needed to do something with the dog.”

Martinez maintains she didn’t know what happened to the dog, but surrendered the animals because “she was upset and realized she could not care for the dogs.”

Martinez could not be reached for comment by ABC News, but she defended herself to ABC News’ Houston affiliate KTRK, “It appears to be an accident that I was not aware of. I tried to make it right,” she said.

Courtesy Harris County Sheriff's Office

“It really upsets me,” Martinez said. “I know you have to have advocates to protect them. In my case, it’s not fair. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

The three dogs have since been released to Red Collar Rescue to obtain additional treatment.

Martinez posted $3,000 bond.

Martinez’s current employment status could not be confirmed by Houston’s Tenney private school

[raineth]

oh my god

[Bjelkier]

Not her fault??? You have got to be kidding me

[Tintin Jac]

How sad that a person can be in such a state of mind that they can't see or acknowledge something so awful

Those poor dogs must have been in agony.

[Guest Maeby Fünke]

Gobsmacked.

[Little Gifts]

Oh the pain that poor dog suffered! For her to get what she did wrong perhaps a bone in her leg needs to be exposed and left untreated. If Rainy was fine with only 2 legs then she should be fine with just 1, right?

[Roova]

How could someone be running a school, yet be so far out of reality she refuses (even now) to accept limbs rotting off her pets isn't something she should be concerned about?? I don't understand how someone with that mental damage could hold down a high powered job??

I also don't understand why the son couldn't have just taken the dogs to get help himself. Clearly his mother wasn't dealing with their problems the poor little tykes

[mona]

Disgusting No other word for it.

And to think, she is a principal responsible for overseeing the education of young minds...

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Disgusting No other word for it.

And to think, she is a principal responsible for overseeing the education of young minds...

What a piece of trash this woman is. She wouldn't have been short of money either - no excuse in the world for the suffering these poor creatures have endured.

She's just vile, I hope she disappears off the planet, slowly, limb by bloody limb

[mixeduppup]

This woman needs psychological help.

[espinay2]

Failing to act is an act in itself..... Yes, there appear to be some deeper issues here that may explain her inaction, but explanations are not excuses. Very saddened by this.

Edited November 10, 2013 by espinay2

[cannibalgoldfish]

Can I ask a weird qustion here? Where is the line of news and "cruelty news" drawn? I'm not asking because I wither and die when reading stories like this but I know there is the cruelty and abuse section above. I would think this story is pretty abusive?

I guess I'm asking where is the line drawn or why do we have a seperate section(that I always forget about...)

[BC Crazy]

Oh the pain that poor dog suffered! For her to get what she did wrong perhaps a bone in her leg needs to be exposed and left untreated. If Rainy was fine with only 2 legs then she should be fine with just 1, right?

THIS....

Edited November 19, 2013 by BC Crazy

[Nic.B]

One word. Sociopath or better still socialised sociopath.

People that are admired and even respected in their line of work and the community yet are incapable of any feeling or empathy/love toward another human being, let alone animal.

Discusting individual.