by | Published
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - A San Antonio woman was arrested after deputies found a severely underweight dog living on an apartment balcony.
On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, deputies responded to a report of a dog left outside at an apartment in the 5500 block of Mansion Bluff in the Medina Valley area.
When deputies arrived, they spoke with the owner, 22-year-old Giovanni Leija. She told deputies she had owned the dog for about five years and typically fed it before leaving for work. She said the dog was usually kept inside, but stayed on the patio while she was away.
Inside the apartment, deputies located a pit bull/boxer mix that appeared extremely thin. The dog’s ribs and hip bones were clearly visible, and it showed signs of prolonged neglect.
On the balcony, deputies found two empty and dry food and water bowls. The patio was covered in multiple piles of feces, indicating the dog had been confined there for an extended period.
A Bexar County Animal Control officer responded to evaluate the animal and confirmed the dog was underweight. The officer estimated the dog to be between six and seven years old, noting gray hair around its muzzle.
Leija admitted she had been forgetting to feed the dog. Deputies said the animal’s condition, combined with the unsanitary living environment and lack of food and water, showed clear signs of neglect.
Leija was arrested and charged with animal cruelty. She was transported to the Bexar County Adult Detention Center.
