A Texas man has been sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to animal cruelty charges in a disturbing case that left his small dog missing.
Abed Carrion, 22, of Harris County, admitted to violently abusing his terrier, Koko, after shocking surveillance video showed him punching and choking the little dog inside his home.
The footage, reviewed by the Houston SPCA and Harris County Constable Precinct 1 Animal Cruelty Detectives, showed Carrion repeatedly striking Koko in the face. Investigators said the video provided undeniable evidence of abuse and led to felony charges being filed.
Carrion later pleaded guilty to cruelty to a non-livestock animal “in the manner of torture” — a felony under Texas law. He was sentenced to two years of probation, avoiding jail time.
But the most heartbreaking part of the case is that Koko is still missing. Officials believe the terrier survived the abuse but was later abandoned along a road in Magnolia, Texas. Her current whereabouts are unknown. Authorities hope she may have been picked up by a Good Samaritan and found a safe home, but there has been no confirmation.
Texas law allows prosecutors to pursue either misdemeanor or felony charges for animal cruelty under Penal Code Section 42.092, depending on the severity of the abuse. In Carrion’s case, prosecutors sought the “torture” designation, underscoring the egregious nature of the acts.
Harris County processes hundreds of animal cruelty cases annually, with officials estimating approximately 300 cases will be handled in 2025. To coordinate enforcement, the county has formed a dedicated animal cruelty task force that includes the Houston SPCA, multiple constable precincts, and the District Attorney’s Office.
Animal cruelty cases in Harris County are handled by a dedicated task force that brings together law enforcement and animal welfare organizations. The Houston SPCA encourages residents to report suspected abuse by calling its 24-hour hotline at 713-869-7722 or using its online reporting portal.
