Christian Moreno and Abilene Schnieder: San Antonio couple trained dogs ‘with meat to be aggressive’ before man, 81, was mauled to death
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers' discretion advised
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS: San Antonio couple arrested and charged after their two dogs mauled an elderly man to death. In a shocking revelation, police found out Christian Alexander Moreno and his wife Abilene Schnieder had “used meat to train their dogs to be aggressive.” The dog attack victim was identified as Air Force veteran Ramon Najeram, 81, on February 24.
At the time of the tragic incident Najera and his wife Jane, 74, along with a third friend they had been visiting, were taking a stroll along the 2800 block of Depla Street, on the city's west side. Two American Staffordshire terriers charged at the trio, during which Najera died shielding his wife, and their friend was bitten in the hand. The vicious attacks come after weeks of increasingly violent behavior shown by the animals.
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'The pair kept the dogs unsecured'
Police received multiple tips that Moreno and his wife Schnieder had “been breeding the dogs and training the dogs to be aggressive with meat,” the report states. The fatal ambush comes after dogs, King and Snow, who had a history of violence in the city, escaped their yard and charged at the trio group. However, the dog owners claim their canines grew aggressive after they were sterilized, reported New York Post. Officials stated that the city’s Animal Control Services reportedly spayed the dogs after they attacked two people in another instance.
Nevertheless, the new move only made the dogs more aggressive as they even began fighting each other in the family's yard, Schnieder told cops. Despite the pets showing dangerous behavior, police said the pair kept the dogs unsecured without chains or tethers. Moreover, when the dogs escaped and charged at Najera, they latched onto him while dragging him along the street, before they were chased by firefighters wielding pick axes. Even a responding fire captain was bitten in the leg during the attack.
The firefighters are 'emotionally scarred'
Following the fatal tragedy, Animal Control Services euthanized King and Snow as well as a third dog belonging to the family. Moreno was first arrested and now faces felony charges of attack by a dangerous dog causing death and injury to an elderly. Shortly after police arrested Schnieder with the same charges after they found out she too shares ownership of the animals. Before her arrest, Schnieder publicly apologized to Najera’s family, adding that it wasn't her husband Morenos' fault.
Chief Charles Hood said, "It has been a horrific scene and horrific experience for everyone involved including firefighters which was essentially a rescue to save themselves." He added the entire experience had likely "emotionally scarred" the firefighters involved. "Nobody expects to go out and fight dogs in a situation like they did today," he said.