Case Details
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Case ID: 2614
Classification: Vehicular
Animal: dog (non pit-bull)
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Case #2614 Rating: 5.0 out of 5



Dog dragged behind truck
Phoenix, AZ (US)

Incident Date: Sunday, Aug 1, 2004
County: Maricopa

Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Herminio Rivera Velasquez

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

A judge Friday (Aug 6, 2004) ruled that a 4-year-old dog dragged nearly a mile behind a truck will remain in the care of the Arizona Humane Society pending the outcome of her owner's criminal case.

Phoenix Municipal Judge Richard Garcia ordered Herminio Velasquez, 32, to post a $250 bond within 10 days to help pay the cost of care for his dog, whose pads were bloody and blistered during her Aug. 1 ordeal.

"We think the judge was very fair," said Kim Noetzel, humane society spokeswoman. "And he did everything he could to make sure he (Velasquez) understood what was happening."

If Velasquez is cleared of animal-cruelty charges, the dog could be returned to him. Otherwise it will be adopted, Noetzel said.

Velasquez is scheduled for an 8:30 a.m., Aug. 18 preliminary hearing in Glendale Justice Court.

Dr. Raven Novak, a humane society veterinarian, testified Friday that the dog's pads "looked like hamburger" and her nails "were torn off at the top" when she was brought into the clinic.

"She was very exhausted and bleeding profusely," Novak said, adding that the dog was also a bit underweight and her fur was matted.

Novak said the dog's recovery will take as long as a month.

Velasquez did not testify at the trial but said through his interpreter that his family loves the dog and wants her back.

The dog's ordeal started Aug. 1 after she ran away.

Velasquez said in earlier interviews that after he found her he tied her to the truck's bumper because he didn't want to soil his church clothes by lifting her into the vehicle.

In court Friday, he said through his interpreter that he watched the dog from the bed of the truck while his wife drove. He said when he realized the chow was in pain he untied her and led her home the last few hundred feet.


Case Updates

A judge in Phoenix today sentenced Hermino Velasquez to two years' probation. He also ordered that the man's dog, "Sandy," can be placed up for adoption by the Arizona Humane Society. Under terms of his probation, Velasquez can't own any animals for the next two years.

Velasquez said in court today that he was sorry for what happened, that he didn't mean to hurt "Sandy."

The incident occurred after the dog had escaped from the yard.

Velasquez pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty.
Source: KPHO - March 24, 2005
Update posted on Mar 24, 2005 - 10:53PM 

References

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