EDMONTON- A non-criminal charge has been laid against a man after a dog was allegedly dragged behind a pick-up truck in central Edmonton earlier this week.
The 33-year-old man, whose name has not been released, has been charged under the Animal Protection Act with causing an animal to be in distress.
“A criminal charge requires evidence of willful intent, which does not appear to be the case in this incident,” said lead investigator Constable Mandy Squire.
On Tuesday, police were called after several people witnessed a white and brown pit bull being dragged behind the pick-up, by a rope or leash attached to the truck’s rear bumper. The incident happened in the area of 92nd Street and 114th Avenue around 12:30 p.m.
Police say the six-year-old dog, a female named Nalla, was in the care of the accused at the time of the incident, but he is not the dog’s owner.
“There is some confusion as to who lawfully owns the animal, so that still needs to be determined,” said Squire.
Nalla suffered serious injuries similar to road rash, particularly to her paws. She has been under 24-hour medical care since Tuesday. Nalla has also undergone numerous surgeries, to treat the bottoms of her paws. Police say she will remain under medical care for several weeks.
“During that time, we will continue to investigate ownership, and determine if she is to be placed for adoption,” added Squire.
Police say the cost of medical care for Nalla could reach as much as $10,000.
Officers say they’ve received an overwhelming response from people who want to help Nalla. Information on how the public can contribute to her medical costs is being finalized and will be shared on the EPS Facebook page.
The accused will appear in court in mid-June to face a yet-to-be determined fine, according to police.
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