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 Monday in a news release.
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.
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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.
Carlos Davalos, an attorney representing Madrid-Segura, said in an email Tuesday his client “has no prior history of violence or harm caused to others or animals.”
“We have reason to believe that the harm caused to the dog in this case was the result of a tragic mistake and we will do our part in explaining this further as Mr. Madrid’s case proceeds,” the attorney said.
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.