Target: Bill Hicks, District Attorney of El Paso County, Texas
Goal: Pursue the maximum sentence, mandatory counseling, and a lifetime animal-ownership ban for the man reportedly filmed shooting his dog with gel pellets.
Instagram viewers were stunned when a live-stream reportedly showed a Pitbull mix named Spanky yelping as gel pellets struck his body again and again. Tipsters alerted police, who allegedly traced the video to Jesus Armando Ortega and arrested him on cruelty charges. Though Spanky miraculously suffered no visible wounds, veterinary staff say he now startles at loud noises and struggles to trust people—clear signs of psychological trauma.
It appears this incident is not an isolated act of mischief; gel pellets can cause significant pain, bruising, and internal injury, especially when fired at close range. Broadcasting the attack on social media purportedly turned Spanky’s suffering into a spectacle, normalizing cruelty for viewers and encouraging copycats. Animal-welfare advocates warn that violence displayed for entertainment is a red flag for future, potentially more severe abuse.
Texas law allows tough penalties for aggravated cruelty, yet meaningful deterrence only happens when courts apply those penalties to the fullest extent. Incarceration, compulsory counseling, and a lifetime ban on owning animals would protect other pets and send a clear message that such sadistic “content” will never be tolerated.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear District Attorney Hicks,
Police reportedly arrested Jesus Armando Ortega after Instagram Live footage appeared to show him repeatedly shooting his dog, Spanky, with gel pellets. Although the pellets left no visible injuries, veterinary professionals state that the dog is now fearful of loud noises and hesitant to trust people—classic symptoms of emotional trauma.
It appears that this livestream turned deliberate cruelty into public entertainment, exposing countless viewers to violence and potentially encouraging further abuse. Texas’ animal-cruelty statutes exist to prevent exactly this kind of suffering, and they provide for serious penalties when an animal is intentionally harmed.
We respectfully urge your office to pursue the highest level of charges and seek the maximum sentence permissible by law, including mandatory psychological counseling and a permanent prohibition on owning animals. A decisive legal response will deliver justice for Spanky and deter anyone tempted to make sport of an animal’s pain.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Randi Deuro
