This weekend, Schertz police responded to a call on Hillbrook Drive in Northeast Bexar County. What they found was heartbreaking: several dogs and cats left behind in “distressing conditions,” showing clear signs of neglect. Some were barely clinging to life. None had access to food, water, or care.

Rescuers from the Schertz Animal Control Division rushed the animals into emergency treatment. But the question remains — how could anyone walk away and leave them there to suffer?

This is not a simple case of abandonment. This is cruelty. And it needs to be treated that way — not just with a slap on the wrist, but with real legal consequences.

Right now, the offense is being considered a Class A misdemeanor under Texas law. But with multiple animals severely neglected in a long-abandoned home, that charge feels painfully insufficient. Texans know that animal cruelty isn’t just morally wrong — it’s dangerous. It’s the kind of behavior that leads to more violence, more victims, and more heartbreak if we don’t stop it in its tracks.

Under Texas law, extreme or repeated cruelty to animals can be prosecuted as a state jail felony. That option must be on the table.

We’re calling on Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales, Schertz Police Chief Jim Lowery, and all local officials to take this seriously. Fully investigate this case. And if the evidence supports it — pursue felony charges.

Those animals had no voice. They couldn’t call for help. But we can.

If you believe that abandoning pets to suffer alone in a locked home is a crime — not just a mistake — sign this petition now.