A woman who contacted the Calgary Humane Society (CHS) after noticing a dog sitting on an open flatbed trailer, being towed by a pickup truck in Calgary, says she “couldn’t believe it.”
Sgt. Dennis Smithson said Thursday that the dog has been located and is being examined by a veterinarian to determine if it’s healthy.
Smithson said police will determine whether to lay criminal charges or fine the owner under the Animal Protection Act, depending on the outcome of that examination.
He said the owner is not cooperating with police after speaking with his lawyer.
An image of the dog posted to Facebook on Oct. 28 was shared over 14,000 times and garnered over 1,300 comments as of Wednesday night.
READ MORE: Woman, man charged after RCMP say dog dragged behind car on Alberta highway
The widely shared image was reported to city bylaw officers, the Calgary Humane Society (CHS) and police.
Mackie said she also contacted police immediately after the incident and was directed to CHS. She said she reported it online and called the organization and was referred to City of Calgary bylaw services.
She said she was asked for a statement from the humane society Thursday morning.
The head of enforcement for the humane society said Wednesday the incident could lead to animal cruelty charges.
“On the Animal Protection Act end of things, that certainly has the potential for causing distress and can be an undue hardship,” CHS spokesperson Brad Nichols told Global News. “From the photo that I witnessed, it appears to be risky at best. The dog potentially could fall off that flatbed while the vehicle is in motion, which would have the potential for severe injury, if not death.
“If it were able to get veterinary support and Crown support on an Animal Protection Act charge, then there’s the potential for a high fine and prohibition from owning animals.”
The city says it appears to violate the responsible pet ownership bylaw, as well.
“You cannot have a dog outside the cab of a vehicle unless there are certain conditions that are met and those conditions would be that it has to be in an enclosed trailer, it’s got to be an enclosed cab or topper for the vehicle,” animal bylaw services inspector Doug Anderson said. “It would have to be in a kennel that’s secured to the truck; it can’t be standing on bare metal.
“The best thing he could have done, looking at this picture, is to put it in the back of the vehicle.”
Mackie said the dog was tied on a “fairly loose lead and that there was a lot of room “for the dog to move.”
“As the vehicle was moving, and stopping, and turning, the dog was adjusting itself to maintain its balance,” she said.
“It looked really dangerous.”
With files from Global’s Erika Tucker
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