Pancho's Law targets pet services that act negligently

RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Pancho’s Law took effect this week in Texas, adding criminal negligence to the state’s animal cruelty statute and holding pet service businesses accountable for harm or death to animals in their care.

The law is named after Pancho, a dog who died after a trip to the groomer. Pet owners across the Valley are reacting.

"I'm happy to see that justice is going to be served. Unfortunately, we can't take back the lives lost. I hope to see more steps forward towards proper care and handling,” said Carolyn Martinez, co-owner of Jingles.

Martinez says her dog Jingles was also a victim.

“We decide to bury Jingles the day I turned 21," Martinez said sadly. "It was March 12. It was the day she died. Eventually, we woke up that morning, she cried this long howl, and she went. My mom woke me up to tell me what had happened.”

Martinez says Jingles was left unable to walk after a grooming visit in 2019.

“We picked her up, I think, at five o'clock, when I was getting ready to close," she added. "And when they brought her out, she couldn't walk at all, like they were basically just dragging her, which I'm kind of like, whoa.”

At first, they hoped Jingles would recover, but she stopped eating. A vet found she had a snapped back bone.

Days later, she died. Martinez said the groomer showed them video and called it an accident, but she also said police could not do much to get answers.

“We realized at that moment that when they were drying Jingles, they were trying to pull her up, to sit up, and when they were tying it, they basically strangled her, and she's just there, snapped until she can position her basically, and she's kind of just not the same after that,” Martinez said.

Top Dog Grooming told us they cooperated fully with the family and police.

In a statement, the business said, “I believe the law is valid and necessary. Top Dog fully cooperated not only with the police, but with the family and we were in constant communication for those five days… the pup in question was 14 years old, extremely obese due to severe arthritis and she passed away. The law is long overdue… in Texas pups were considered property. Hopefully, with this law it expands their rights."

In Texas, there are no regulations or licenses for pet grooming businesses. Attorney Jay Pena says that’s one reason why this law was introduced following Pancho’s death.

“Law enforcement didn't have a lot of teeth, they couldn't get a lot of answers, and now through the element of prosecution, they can get answers for everything. So if anything, number one, it serves to give pet owners maybe more answers in circumstances where things go awry with their pets,” Pena said.

Under the old law, groomers could avoid charges by claiming ignorance. Now, criminal negligence gives prosecutors the power to act. Violators could face a Class A misdemeanor, up to one year in jail, and thousands of dollars in fines.

“It raises a serious question, right? Would it be better that these businesses were regulated? Because now that we've got this new criminal aspect to it, it certainly makes it a lot riskier to be in that type of business,” Pena added.

He says the law could deter some from opening new pet service businesses. As for Martinez, she says this is just the beginning.

“I think regulatory checkups is important. Businesses do need to be monitored on how they handle things, especially when you're taking living organisms, such as humans or animals. This is a great step towards this,” she said.