Rosaleo Vela sentenced for animal cruelty, must donate dog food monthly

NEDERLAND, Texas — A Nederland man convicted of cruelty to animals was sentenced to 10 years of probation and ordered to donate a bag of dog food to the Humane Society every month for those 10 years after pleading guilty to charges stemming from the death of a dog in July 2024.

Rosaleo Jesus Vela, 33, was indicted for cruelty to a non-livestock animal after a dying adult bully dog and a 4-month-old puppy in distress were found on a small balcony, covered in feces and without proper access to water or shade.

On July 19, 2024, at around 7:11 PM, officers were called to the residence at 3221 Avenue D after reports of a dying dog. 

When they got there, officers discovered the adult dog lying lifeless on the balcony, its body positioned unnaturally with its face pressed against the bars, drooling. 

The dog had been left without shade or proper water for approximately nine hours, during which time temperatures had reached between 89 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Witnesses described the adult dog as heavily panting and struggling to survive before eventually collapsing.

Efforts by witnesses to hose the dog down were unsuccessful in saving its life. A 4-month-old puppy was also found hiding on the balcony, and the area was covered in feces. 

The only water available to the animals was a small, partially filled Tupperware container.

Vela had placed the dogs on the balcony around 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., leaving them in direct sunlight with no access to air conditioning until around 1:30 a.m. when the owner returned home. 

The dogs had been abandoned in these inhumane conditions for hours.

Vela was sentenced by Judge Raquel West in the 252nd District Court, who also imposed additional requirements as part of his probation.

As part of his sentence, Vela will be required to donate one bag of dog food to the Humane Society every month for the duration of his 10-year probation, which is 120 bags of dog food. 

Judge West stated that the monthly donations were meant to serve as a reminder to Vela of the suffering caused to the animals involved in the case.

“I am going to order that you donate to the Humane Society every month one bag of food every single month,” said Judge West. “I don't want it to be a huge financial obligation, but I want it to be something that reminds you and helps other animals all at the same time.”

Judge West also ordered him to never have any pets of any kind.

His probation will be subject to a 10-year suspension, meaning if he violates the terms of his probation, he could face additional prison time as determined by the judge.

This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.