Free Maria Flores
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Maria Flores thought she was doing the right thing when she surrendered her dog, Muffy, to Dallas Animal Services. The 10-year-old Maltese needed medical treatment, but she couldn’t afford to pay for it.
That visit led Dallas County Sheriff's deputies to arrest Flores five months later. Now, she’s in an immigration detention center, facing a felony and possible deportation.
It all started with a trip to the vet in January. Flores and her husband took Muffy to Metro Paws Animal Hospital in Oak Cliff. According to vet records provided to KERA, the dog had been limping on his rear left leg for two days and an area on that leg was irritated.
The vet instructed Flores to return with Muffy a couple of days later. The treatment plan included radiographs of the hind legs, sedating the dog, shaving him, repairing the laceration, an antibiotic injection, and pain medication.
But the treatment plan was costly, according to Belinda Arroyo, Flores’ attorney.
“The amount that the vet was wanting to charge them to do the work was something they could not afford,” Arroyo said. “So they did not take the dog back to the vet … because they couldn’t afford to.”
By March, Muffy’s condition hadn’t improved, so the couple decided to take the dog to Dallas Animal Services, the city’s animal shelter. According to the police affidavit, the dog was “surrendered and taken to the medical team.” A vet who works for the shelter examined Muffy.
The vet noted the matted hair “appeared to have caused complete tearing of the Achilles tendon” and also muscle loss. The vet contacted two animal cruelty detectives with the Dallas Police Department. After seeing the dog, the detectives determined the dog’s injuries should be investigated and reached out to the SPCA.
According to the police affidavit, a vet with the SPCA examined and treated Muffy, but after a week, he didn’t get better. So Muffy’s left rear leg was amputated.
On Aug. 11, Dallas County Sheriff deputies arrested Maria Flores at her Dallas home, five months after she and her husband gave Muffy to Dallas Animal Services.
Flores, 54, was booked in Dallas County Jail and charged with animal cruelty, something her attorney, Arroyo, said should not have happened.
“It almost seems like they’re being punished for not having enough money because it was certainly not from lack of wanting to take care of the dog or else they would have just let it die or not even taken it to the vet,” Arroyo said. “It just doesn’t make sense.”
Flores, who’s undocumented, now faces a felony, and if convicted could spend up to 10 years in prison and be deported to her native Mexico when she’s released.
About a week ago, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement picked her up from jail, where she had an immigration hold, and took her to Bluebonnet Detention Facility in Anson, about three hours west of Dallas.
The money collected will be given to Maria's husband to cover the cost of Maria's bond and partial legal fees. Maria deserves to be reunited with her family. I've known Maria for the past seven years of working with her and her children. She is an incredible, compassionate, and giving human being - one who has continuously done her part and has gone the extra mile to help others. This is a woman who would do whatever it takes to help others, ensure her children had what they needed to be successful, and be the empathic individual we desperately need in times like these. We appreciate any and all support - whether it's a donation of any size, prayers for Maria and her family, and sharing this page on your social media platforms.
That visit led Dallas County Sheriff's deputies to arrest Flores five months later. Now, she’s in an immigration detention center, facing a felony and possible deportation.
It all started with a trip to the vet in January. Flores and her husband took Muffy to Metro Paws Animal Hospital in Oak Cliff. According to vet records provided to KERA, the dog had been limping on his rear left leg for two days and an area on that leg was irritated.
The vet instructed Flores to return with Muffy a couple of days later. The treatment plan included radiographs of the hind legs, sedating the dog, shaving him, repairing the laceration, an antibiotic injection, and pain medication.
But the treatment plan was costly, according to Belinda Arroyo, Flores’ attorney.
“The amount that the vet was wanting to charge them to do the work was something they could not afford,” Arroyo said. “So they did not take the dog back to the vet … because they couldn’t afford to.”
By March, Muffy’s condition hadn’t improved, so the couple decided to take the dog to Dallas Animal Services, the city’s animal shelter. According to the police affidavit, the dog was “surrendered and taken to the medical team.” A vet who works for the shelter examined Muffy.
The vet noted the matted hair “appeared to have caused complete tearing of the Achilles tendon” and also muscle loss. The vet contacted two animal cruelty detectives with the Dallas Police Department. After seeing the dog, the detectives determined the dog’s injuries should be investigated and reached out to the SPCA.
According to the police affidavit, a vet with the SPCA examined and treated Muffy, but after a week, he didn’t get better. So Muffy’s left rear leg was amputated.
On Aug. 11, Dallas County Sheriff deputies arrested Maria Flores at her Dallas home, five months after she and her husband gave Muffy to Dallas Animal Services.
Flores, 54, was booked in Dallas County Jail and charged with animal cruelty, something her attorney, Arroyo, said should not have happened.
“It almost seems like they’re being punished for not having enough money because it was certainly not from lack of wanting to take care of the dog or else they would have just let it die or not even taken it to the vet,” Arroyo said. “It just doesn’t make sense.”
Flores, who’s undocumented, now faces a felony, and if convicted could spend up to 10 years in prison and be deported to her native Mexico when she’s released.
About a week ago, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement picked her up from jail, where she had an immigration hold, and took her to Bluebonnet Detention Facility in Anson, about three hours west of Dallas.
The money collected will be given to Maria's husband to cover the cost of Maria's bond and partial legal fees. Maria deserves to be reunited with her family. I've known Maria for the past seven years of working with her and her children. She is an incredible, compassionate, and giving human being - one who has continuously done her part and has gone the extra mile to help others. This is a woman who would do whatever it takes to help others, ensure her children had what they needed to be successful, and be the empathic individual we desperately need in times like these. We appreciate any and all support - whether it's a donation of any size, prayers for Maria and her family, and sharing this page on your social media platforms.
Organizer
Ingrid Torres
Organizer
Irving, TX