The balcony recording
The video was recorded Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at a fifth-floor apartment on calle El Mirador in San Salvador, according to TV Azteca Puebla and Publinews.
In the recording, Rosales holds the pug outside the balcony by its right hind leg. The dog cries as he appears to photograph it, then brings it back inside over the railing.
Rosales played for C.D. Águila in El Salvador's Primera División during the 1990s, UOL Notícias reported, citing the New York Post.
Two dogs rescued
San Salvador Mayor Mario Durán said his office learned of the incident soon after it was filmed. Members of his staff went with National Civil Police officers to the apartment, where they rescued two dogs.
"It is now safe and will receive the care it needs," Durán wrote. "Thank you for reporting this. We will not tolerate animal abuse in San Salvador Centro."
Animal lovers urged authorities not to return the dogs to Rosales. Among the social media responses were: "They should never let him have any kind of animal." Another commenter wrote, "I felt so sorry for that little dog."
Potential penalties under Salvadoran law
Rosales could face two to four years in prison if convicted of animal abuse. El Diario de Hoy reports that Article 261-A of El Salvador's Penal Code establishes that range for animal mistreatment that constitutes a crime.
Separate administrative penalties are set out in the country's Ley Especial de Protección y Bienestar Animal, approved in January 2022. According to El Diario de Hoy, the law divides animal-mistreatment infractions into minor, serious and very serious categories, with fines ranging from $408 to $4,080.
The outlet also reports that, when mistreatment causes a companion animal's death, the person responsible can face additional fines and disqualification from keeping companion animals. Prison terms of less than three years may be replaced with community work or a fine.
