"(August 14, 2008)--San Marcos police are investigating an officer who stopped a car on Interstate 35 as a man and his girlfriend rushed their pet poodle to an emergency veterinary clinic.
The couple claims the dog died while they were kept waiting for a speeding ticket.
Michael Gonzalez was allegedly driving 95 miles per hour when he and girlfriend Krystal Hernandez were stopped early Aug. 5 as they drove south on Interstate 35 toward the New Braunfels clinic.
Missy, their teacup poodle, died as the pair said they waited 20 minutes for Officer Paul Stephens to issue a ticket.
"This was not our finest hour,” said San Marcos Police Chief Howard Williams.
Williams said the department began an investigation after Gonzalez filed a complaint about the incident.
Gonzalez and Hernandez said they pleaded with Stephens to allow them to continue on and later turn themselves in to be ticketed.
They also said they offered for Gonzalez to stay behind while Hernandez drove with Missy to New Braunfels.
Hernandez said Stephens responded: "Chill out, it's just a dog, you can buy another one.
I think both sides have decent arguments for their actions, but in no way should the owners of the dog been endangering the lives of hundreds of human motorists to try to save the life of one dog. Where do you stand?
