A Ford Heights man allegedly dragged a small dog tied to the back of his pickup truck, according to Cook County sheriff’s police.
Police said Monday the 5-year-old, black-and-brown female Yorkshire terrier was tied to the hitch of the truck and was bleeding heavily after police stopped the truck at about 8 p.m. Aug 1 in the 1300 block of Seeley Avenue in Ford Heights.
Officers rendered aid to the dog on scene and then took her to an animal hospital for medical treatment, police said in a news release Monday.
Police said 34-year-old Vianey Madrid-Segura was stopped after sheriff’s police saw stopped the silver pickup truck he was driving with the dog being dragged behind.
Officers cited Madrid-Segura for driving without a license and contacted the sheriff’s police animal crimes unit to continue the investigation, according to the release.
Investigators learned Madrid-Segura tied the dog to the back of the truck to let it use the bathroom and later drove off with the dog still tied. The dog sustained extensive and severe wounds to her body, including trauma to all four paws and debris in her abdomen, which require ongoing treatment, police said.
The dog was released Aug. 2 to her owner, who is a relative of Madrid-Segura, police said.
Police said Madrid-Segura was taken into custody Aug. 6, charged with aggravated cruelty to animals and released.
Police said a judge denied prosecutor’s petition that he be held in custody pending trial during an initial court hearing Monday at the Markham courthouse.