A Rocky View County dog owner is facing charges after a photo of a dog being towed by a pickup truck on an open flatbed trailer in Calgary was posted online.
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, Nov. 1.
The Calgary Humane Society (CHS) said Tuesday the dog was not injured and is in “good health.”
“With a dog that big going at 100 kilometres down Stoney Trail, you can just imagine the risk of falling off, or things getting kicked up by the tires,” said CHS spokesperson Brad Nichols.
WATCH: Brad Nichols from the Calgary Humane Society talks about the health and future of a dog who was pictured on a trailer driving down the highway.
Volodymyr Irodenko faces a criminal charge of causing distress to an animal as well as a number of other charges under the Animal Protection Act and local Calgary bylaws.
Under the Animal Protection Act, he could face up to a $20,000 fine and a lifetime ban on owning animals.
WATCH BELOW: Calgary Humane Society says act was ‘certainly dangerous’
The CHS said Irodenko is currently restricted from “being in the care of any animals” but added there is a chance the dog could eventually be returned to him.
“Animals are property by law, so I can’t say there’s no possibility of the dog going home but at this point it’s in custody,” Nichols said.
WATCH:Photo of dog being towed on open trailer in Calgary sparks investigations.
Sgt. Dan Smithson with the Calgary Police Service said Irodenko has not previously faced any charges. Smithson said apart from turning himself into police, Irodenko has been “uncooperative.”
His next court appearance is scheduled for early December.
WATCH: Calgary Humane Society calls incident ‘unique.’