Indiantown teen accused of animal cruelty after dog dragged by vehicle
June 2nd, 2009 by Ana X. CeronINDIANTOWN — A 14-year-old boy is accused of animal cruelty after his dog was dragged by a vehicle the boy had left him tied to, sheriff’s deputies say.
An officer with the Martin County Sheriff’s animal control unit spotted the injured dog Sunday morning by Mac’s Grocery in the Booker Park area.
A sheriff’s deputy recalled seeing the dog, uninjured, the day before, tied to a vehicle parked outside the teen’s home.
After interviewing the boy and his parents, the deputy learned the boy had left the dog tethered to the vehicle.
Later that day, the teen’s father gave a family member permission to borrow the vehicle and the relative drove away without realizing the dog had been tied to the vehicle. Several relatives use the same vehicle, the family said.
The dog was dragged nearly 530 yards before it was able to break free, deputies estimated.
Because the dog was injured and required immediate medical attention, the boy decided to sign him over to the Humane Society.
The boy was arrested on a charge of animal abuse.
Tags: animal control, animal cruelty, Booker Park, Martin County Sheriff's Office
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June 2nd, 2009 at 10:59 am
I can’t believe someone was this cruel to a dog or any animal!! it breaks my heart to hear stories like this.
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:27 am
Why doesn’t someone tie this creep to a car fender and drive him 530 yards? Seems like a fair exchange? People should, before marrying, having children or owning pets, be given extensive psychological examinations. The atrocities being committed against children, animals and the elderly daily make me nauseous and ashamed to be a part of the human race.
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:29 am
If you read the whole story, its not like the kid purposely tied the dog to the car so it would be dragged…. the family member that borrowed the car didnt realize there was a dog tied to it…. so all in all this was a complete accident. I dont think this was intentionally cruel and you are no one to judge this 14yr old kid. Are you perfect? I could answer that for you ….NO!!! So just jump off that high horse you’re on and shut the **** up….I can’t believe there are people like you who are so quick to judge a situation, you cant even be open to believe it was an accident? Thats what it sounds like to me….I dont think a 14yr old should have animal cruelty on his record for a simple mistake. A costly mistake but a mistake causing an accident nontheless. Get a grip lady…
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:58 am
Well, here’s another thought. It WAS a costly mistake and the kid should have to be responsible for his actions. If he had done it on purpose, the consequences would be more severe. It was not an accident when the kid tied the dog to an automobile, it was careless. And no I am not perfect either but when I do something thoughtless that causes significant harm I should be and am held accountable. Yes, I can judge a 14 year old boy and anyone else involved in a situiation where the facts are presented clearly and completely. I am not open to believe this was an accident. This is a clear case of carelessness.
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:59 am
The boy should not be charged. It seems clear to me it was an accident.
My husband did the very same thing. During an approaching hurricane, he tied his dog to his truck and left the garage door up a smidge so the dog could use the bathroom. Later, hubby got a call from work and left in a hurry - forgetting that he’d left poor Floppy tied to it. Floppy survived the ordeal, but did require medical attention. Hubby felt just awful about his mistake. Needless to say, hubby learned his lesson that dogs should not be tied to a vehicle in any circumstance. Accidents *DO* happen.
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:13 pm
To emotional poster #3: If it was an accident, why did the police arrest the kid? There must be more to the story.
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Deanna,
your husband is dumb. You are dumb for marrying him.
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:18 pm
to all of you. Any animal should NEVER be tied to a vehicle under any curcumstances!!!! There isnt anywhere else you can tie your animal too. Like something that doesn’t move. A bench, mailbox, or a stake in the ground. And what kinda idiot doesn’t “realize” theres an animal tied to a vehicle. You didnt see it when you went to get in the vechile, backing up, or even starting it.. i mean your supposed to check your mirrors and stuff apparently people are dumber then i really thought. i mean i knew they were but geez. this is ridiculous. and this 14yr old boy shouldnt get charged with animal cruelty he should be charged with animal neglect. leaving the poor dog tied up for however long. stupid stupid stupid
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:20 pm
#5. what kinda person is he to tie his dog to a car in the garage during an upcoming hurricane?!?!?!?! I must say again STUPID!!!!! and WRONG!!! he shoulda been arrested!!!
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Sounds to me like this “kid” should be sentenced to work at the Humane Society (under strict supervision). Dogs are one of our greatest gifts, next to food and water. They will stand behind you, and be your friend no matter what your lot in life. This “kid” needs to learn a good lesson, accident or not.
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Now what do they say becomes of young kids who torture animals and set fires? (and wet their beds)
They become psychopaths. Then they turn to killing people with little, or no remorse.
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Looks like Cooter done forgot to un hitch spike. That pit bull would have ended up biting someone anyway. Now for sure he will. The boy is probably just as intelligent as the dog. I’d flip a coin over wich one should have been on that bumber. Sounds like a scene form the National Lampoon movie Vacation!
Just me Ned
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:38 pm
The Investigators havent charged the Teen…evidently he wasnt the one that drove the truck. So why are all the comments about “Hanging the Teen”…Hello?????? Obviously most of havent lived in rural areas where it is common to tie your Dog
to your Truck to protect personal property. Infact many Construction Workers do the same if you havent noticed….so be slow to judge and quick to hear!!!
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Accident or Negligence? Either way, that Pit Bull should be like that boy’s Daddy (not Mamma’s boyfriend after the second divorce)toothless.
Me Ned again…
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:50 pm
I protect my truck with either a garage, alarm or key. They all work pretty well in my rural area.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Aunt Edna’s Dog Dinky. Poor little guy probably ran for miles, but just couldn’t keep up… haaa! Stupid Pit Bull, Boy, Father etc etc!!! HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. Larry US! Got to love true Red Neck Stories!
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Do people just not read? Most are acting like the kid did it on purpose. I don’t know about you but I don’t look at the back of my vehicle when I hop in to go to work. I just look behind me when I back up to make sure I don’t back into somebody. I bet most of you don’t either. If a dog is tethered to the bumper, he could be laying down in the yard or on the walk beside the car and especially if he was tied to the passenger side you wouldn’t see him. Most dogs would rather be outside watching what is going on than cooped up in the house because of leash laws. The kid should not have this on his record.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:32 pm
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June 2nd, 2009 at 2:15 pm
The person who drove the vehicle (the article does not explicitly say who the driver was) should be the person charged with animal abuse. Yes, accidents do happen…however, when an ‘accident’ is avoidable why is it called an accident? It’s not. In this case, the boy did the right thing by admitting to what he had done (tied the dog to the truck). Now, the person who drove the truck needs to step forward and do the right thing. That’s the guilty party.
June 2nd, 2009 at 2:17 pm
hey i have a great idea !! why dont we drag this little dude behind a car ? and I would certainly remember if I had tied my dog to my bumper or not !! there is just no excuse for trash like that…
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:06 pm
whoever was driving that car needs to loose there license. how could you not see a dog running or being dragged. thank god a child wasnt behind that car.
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:45 pm
The article says that the deputy sheriff saw the dog the day before uninjured tied to the back of the car. Well, why did he not stop and tell the owners that no animal should ever be tied to a car. Maybe the poor little dog would not have gone through this terrible ordeal. Of course, I do think that not only was the 14 yr old responsible for this, but I bet you that every one in that family at one time or another has tied the dog to the car. The kid learned this from his parents. Also, what about the person who got in the car did this idiot not see the dog? Sounds like all of them are to blame. Idiots all of them including the deputy.
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:19 am
Amazing what people read into an article. There wasn’t a hurricane coming. There is NO mention of the dog being a pit bull.
Common sense would tell a person to look behind a parked car in the driveway to check for bicycles, small children, etc., before pulling out. Then again, if you’ve ever been to Indiantown, you’d know there aren’t too many bright bulbs out there.
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Some of these responses are just as stupid as anything…as one writer says if you go to almost every Mechanic shop you will find they have tied their Dog to a vehicle not because they are being mean but to help protect them and so that the Dog alerts them if someone comes up. The kid tied the Dog (possibly going to get something out of the house before getting ready to walk the dog) and it says that someone else drove off, now the Kid probably was not around when the person jumped in the vehicle therefore he could not warn them that the Dog was behind it. THis most definitely was a accident and it was a Sad one.
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Accident or not….someone needs to be punished! The kid, the parents, whoever drove the vehicle! Amazing we need a license to have a pet but people can have babies like nothing–no license or parenting course needed. Amazing! Imagine how that poor dog felt during and afterwards!!! Some people should not even be allowed to own an animal. I freak out when I haven’t laid eyes on my dog in more than 10 minutes! People who own animals need to be more responsible!!!! What a shame, that poor dog!!!!!!
June 3rd, 2009 at 11:24 pm
I am tired of hearing excuses for all sorts of bad behavior. This child should have been able to make a judgment call. Lets make it easy; next time lets tie this person to the bumper and see how he/she fairs. Has society lost all concept of responsibiility? How do people forget their children in cars or leave their animials tied up in dangerous situations? People like these should never have children or animals, nor should peoople who make excuses for the people who do these horrible things. Wake up America! All of us should be responsible for our actions, including children who should be supervised at ALL TIMES!!!