Pomona Park woman arrested after dog gets dragged for miles behind her vehicle

A Florida woman has been arrested after law enforcement officials say she was driving for miles with a dog tied to her vehicle, apparently unaware the animal was being dragged along the roadway.  Wendy Pena, 27, of Pomona Park, was arrested on November 6 and charged with animal cruelty following the disturbing incident, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.

The incident came to light when a Good Samaritan flagged down Pena and alerted her that the dog was still tied to her vehicle. Pena stopped and got out after being told what had happened.

Although Pena reportedly appeared remorseful, the Good Samaritan said she could not take the injured animal to a veterinarian because she needed to pick up her children. The Good Samaritan then took responsibility for the dog and rushed it to a veterinary office.

The animal had suffered multiple deep, open wounds, along with severe trauma to its paws and shoulder. Given the severity of the injuries, the veterinarian recommended euthanasia as the most humane option.

Putnam County Sheriff H.D. “Gator” DeLoach sharply criticized the owner’s actions, emphasizing that distraction was no excuse for the animal’s suffering.  “Dog ownership comes with a series of responsibilities for the care of an animal,” DeLoach said.

The sheriff described the dog’s ordeal as horrific, questioning how anyone could forget a living animal was attached to a vehicle before driving away.  He also condemned Pena for leaving the injured dog in the care of the Good Samaritan rather than taking responsibility for the consequences of her actions.

Pena was transported to the Putnam County Jail and later released after posting $10,000 bond.

This tragic incident should serve as a grim reminder for all of us regarding the responsibility that comes with owning an animal—and the potentially devastating consequences that can occur when that responsibility is ignored.

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(Source and Images: Putnam County Sheriff’s Office)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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