Dog dragged by SUV, left to die in ditch
Fuquay Varina, NC (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Aug 1, 2006
County: Wake
Disposition: Not Charged
Case Images: 2 files available
Person of Interest: woman
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
A dog dragged for more than two miles by an SUV driver and left to die in a ditch is now recovering at a local animal hospital.
The dog, named Buddy by the staff of Fuquay Veterinary Hospital, greets people with a wagging tail as he recuperates at the hospital.
"He looks pretty good compared to what he looked like when we first got a hold of him," said Shea Cunningham, of the hospital.
In early August, Buddy was tied to the back of a black sport utility vehicle and was dragged down several streets.
Jerry Parker said he and his friend saw the vehicle drive by with the dog attached to the bumper.
"I didn't believe it because it looked like a stuffed animal," Parker said. "(My friend) got in his truck and followed the lady, and I got in my truck."
The SUV went down Phelps West Road and ended up on Adcock Road, he said. The woman finally pulled over, untied a leash from her bumper and the dog's collar and took the leash with her as she drove off, he said.
Parker and his friend lifted the injured dog out of the ditch and took him to the animal hospital.
WRAL is looking into whether the driver was ever found or charged in this case.
Fuquay-Varina police say because the incident happened outside city limits, they did not respond to the incident and are not investigating the case.
A spokeswoman for the Wake County Sheriff's Office says a deputy was sent out to where the dog was left behind, and took down an incident report at that time. The spokeswoman says the report indicated the case was transferred to Animal Control. She could not say why the investigation was turned over to Animal Control.
Jeannie Shook, supervisor for Wake County Animal Control, told WRAL she could not find any report of a dog being dragged by a car in the agency's computer records. She also said she had not heard of the incident until WRAL called Friday. On Saturday, she told WRAL News she will start her own investigation into this. Shook says both the Wake County Sheriff's Office and Animal Control have the authority to investigate animal cruelty cases.
Meanwhile, Buddy is looking for a new owner who can look past his scars to see his will to survive.
Case UpdatesAuthorities said Tuesday that they would not file charges in connection with a case involving a dog that was dragged behind a sport utility vehicle for more than two miles and then left on the side of a road.
Officials with Wake County Environmental Services and Animal Control said there was not enough evidence to issue a warrant for criminal charges against the driver.
Jeannie Shook, supervisor for the animal control department, said it was difficult to get criminal charges filed for animal cruelty and that the department has done all that it can legally.
The driver, however, was issued a citation for a $200 fine.
She told authorities that her husband had tied the animal, which animal hospital workers have called Buddy, to the bumper of the care while he was mowing the lawn. Meanwhile, she said, she drove off in the vehicle without knowing the dog was tied to the SUV.
Witnesses told authorities that the woman stopped the vehicle, unleashed the dog and left him by the road.
Authorities said Tuesday that the driver said she left the dog in the ditch to go to find help and that when she returned, it was gone.
Two people found the dog and took it to a nearby animal hospital for treatment. Veterinarians have said they expect Buddy to fully recovery before going to a new home. | Source: WRAL - Aug 29, 2006
Update posted on Aug 30, 2006 - 10:15AM |
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