Ramiro Zuniga was arrested while abandoning a dog on Dowdy Ferry Road

Ramiro Zuniga (L) in a Dallas County Jail mug shot, (R) at the moment the German Shepherd was abandoned on the edge of Dowdy Ferry Road (WFAA screengrab).

The man who sparked outrage by abandoning a German shepherd in broad daylight in Texas has been arrested, charged and illegally identified as an individual in the United States, according to the Dallas Police Department and county jail records.

Ramiro Zuniga, 41, was arrested on Saturday and charged with animal cruelty in an incident that shocked locals last Wednesday night.

“I’m getting sick”: Texans are outraged by a video in which the owner leaves the German shepherd on the side of the road and races away

Video, taken by animal rescue group Dowdy Ferry Animal Commission, clearly showed an adult man abandoning the dog at Dowdy Ferry Road and Teagarden Road before speeding off, despite witnesses shouting at him. In a heartbreaking moment, the dog swerved into oncoming traffic just behind the white Chevrolet SUV. The dog avoided being hit, however, thanks to the observant and caring citizens who witnessed its departure in the first place.

The Dallas Police Department confirmed to Law&Crime that the then “unknown suspect” abandoned the dog around 6:04 p.m. Wednesday.

“The animal welfare agency responded and recovered the dog in good condition,” police said.

In an update over the weekend, the Dallas Police Department said Zuniga has been identified as a suspect and a search warrant has been executed at his home.

“On March 11, 2023, the Dallas Police Department’s Southeast CRT team executed a search warrant at Zuniga’s home, locating the vehicle used in the crime, and took Zuniga into custody,” police said.

Zuniga was later charged with cruelty to non-living animals in the Dallas County Jail. While bail was set at $4,000, prison records say Zuniga remains in detention because he was requested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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