By Staff
The Humane Society of Escambia County, Alabama is offering a reward for information leading up to the positive identification of the driver of a truck that pulled a pitbull behind it leading to its death.
According to Humane Society cruelty investigator Renee Jones, Tuesday evening at about 6 p.m., construction crews working on the expansion of Hwy. 113 in Flomaton witnessed a vehicle dragging a dog along the highway.
"The vehicle was a black, four door, new model pickup truck with another pitbull in the bed of the truck," Jones said. "A white SUV and a red car also seemed to be part of the group."
Individuals in the crew noticed that the truck had a rope attached to it and was dragging something, but did not realize that it was a dog at first, Jones said.
"They witnessed the black truck stop and several black males, some with 'dreadlocks' emerge from the SUV and the red car," Jones said. "The men walked up to the dog and cut the rope loose from the truck, leaving the dog bleeding in the middle of the road. They then re-entered their respective vehicles and drove around the dog, continuing on Hwy. 113 toward I-65. The dog then struggled to his feet and staggered to the edge of the road where he collapsed."
Jones said crewmembers called the Escambia County Sheriff's Office who dispatched Jones to the scene.
"When I arrived on the scene, I found an emaciated, crop-eared, male pitbull covered in wounds and blood," Jones said. "The dog was conscious and sweet tempered, even though he was in extreme pain."
Upon arrival, Jones noted that the construction crewmembers had disentangled the dog from the rope and they were standing by awaiting help for "Sam."
"Sam was rushed to Atmore Animal Clinic where the decision was made to humanely euthanize due to the severity of his wounds coupled with his already debilitated state," Jones said.
According to Jones, the Humane Society is currently housing two other pitbulls who have been found as strays recently with scarring along their backs indicative of this same type of injury. While not able to draw direct inferences to dogfighting, the questions raised through the comparison certainly seem valid.
Anyone who has information about this or any other crime of cruelty to animals is asked to call the Humane Society of Escambia County, Alabama at 251-867-6860.
– Adam Prestridge