Dog dangerously overheated, choked - Virginia Beach, VA

Friday, Jul 20, 2007

County: Virginia Beach City

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Arealous Durrand Benjamin

A man is charged with animal cruelty after police say he was toting his dangerously-overheated pit bull dog by the neck and the dog's feet weren't on the ground.

Police seized the dog from Arealous Durrand Benjamin, 26, as he walked along 21st Street and Atlantic Avenue with that animal and two other pit bulls.

A bicycle patrol officer stopped after seeing the situation on the 95-degree day.

The dog had a bleeding foot and all the pads on all four feet had been worn off, according to the officer. Officials say the dog's core temperature was nearly at the point where its organs would have started to fail.

Benjamin is due in court on July 25 as animal control officers fight to get permanent custody of the dog.

The other two pit bulls were okay, so Benjamin was allowed to keep them, according to authorities.

The first dog remains under a vet's care.

References

• WVEC - July 21, 2007

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