WELLAND, Ont. — Two suspects have been charged after police say a dog was dragged by a car for nearly a kilometre in Welland, Ont.
Niagara Regional Police say they received calls last Thursday and later confirmed that a small dachshund-beagle mix had been dragged about 800 metres before the car struck another vehicle.
Police say the dog suffered what they described as "traumatic injuries,'' but was rushed to a nearby veterinarian and was expected to recover.
A witness told CHCH News the dog's paws were bloody and covered with lesions.
Investigators say the dog's leash had been attached to the passenger side door, and that it broke just before the car collided with another vehicle.
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Cassandra Mckay, 42, has been charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a dog and causing injury by wilful neglect to a dog. (Photo: Cassandra McKay/Facebook)
The car left a Beer Store and turned as the dog tried to keep up.
Several witnesses apparently tried to alert the occupants of the car to what was happening, but to no avail.
The leash broke seconds before the black Hyundai Accent crashed into the other car, police said.
Police say Cassandra Mckay, 42, and Gary DeWilde, 47, both of Fort Erie, Ont. are each charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a dog and causing injury by wilful neglect to a dog. The two are due in court March 29 to face the allegations.
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Gary DeWilde, 47, has also been charged in relation to the incident. (Photo: Gary DeWilde/Facebook)
Mckay wrote an angry message on Facebook Monday, saying she's received threats from people who accuse her of being a drug user and animal abuser.
"My dog is actually doing A OK and she is actually quite content after some lil ceasers and a play date with her mini wubba I would like to say thanx cuz times like these can be a lot worse and yes I feel humbled and blessed because she is ok," she wrote.
"Sometimes we don't predict something so terrible could happen till it does."
Dewilde wrote on Facebook that he was a passenger in the car and that the dog's injury was an accident.
With files from Emma Prestwich
Niagara Regional Police say they received calls last Thursday and later confirmed that a small dachshund-beagle mix had been dragged about 800 metres before the car struck another vehicle.
Police say the dog suffered what they described as "traumatic injuries,'' but was rushed to a nearby veterinarian and was expected to recover.
A witness told CHCH News the dog's paws were bloody and covered with lesions.
Investigators say the dog's leash had been attached to the passenger side door, and that it broke just before the car collided with another vehicle.
Cassandra Mckay, 42, has been charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a dog and causing injury by wilful neglect to a dog. (Photo: Cassandra McKay/Facebook)
The car left a Beer Store and turned as the dog tried to keep up.
Several witnesses apparently tried to alert the occupants of the car to what was happening, but to no avail.
The leash broke seconds before the black Hyundai Accent crashed into the other car, police said.
Police say Cassandra Mckay, 42, and Gary DeWilde, 47, both of Fort Erie, Ont. are each charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a dog and causing injury by wilful neglect to a dog. The two are due in court March 29 to face the allegations.
Gary DeWilde, 47, has also been charged in relation to the incident. (Photo: Gary DeWilde/Facebook)
Mckay wrote an angry message on Facebook Monday, saying she's received threats from people who accuse her of being a drug user and animal abuser.
"My dog is actually doing A OK and she is actually quite content after some lil ceasers and a play date with her mini wubba I would like to say thanx cuz times like these can be a lot worse and yes I feel humbled and blessed because she is ok," she wrote.
"Sometimes we don't predict something so terrible could happen till it does."
Dewilde wrote on Facebook that he was a passenger in the car and that the dog's injury was an accident.
With files from Emma Prestwich
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