Man charged with dragging dog behind truck

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County Sheriff’s officials said a man has been charged with dragging a dog behind a truck.

Sheriff’s officials said they received a call at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday about a dog being dragged behind a vehicle.

A witness reported seeing a German shepherd tied with a leash to a pickup truck driving on Ronald Reagan Boulevard near State Route 141.

A Forsyth County Sheriff's Office investigator in an unmarked vehicle saw the truck two minutes after the call was dispatched and stopped the driver.

"We got some 911 calls, that a truck was driving down Ronald Reagan Blvd. and there was a dog being dragged behind that was attached to a leash in the pickup truck," Forsyth County Deputy Robin Regan said.

A sheriff’s investigator showed Channel 2’s Tom Regan the intersection at Major’s Road, where they said the driver of the truck was pulled over.

By then, investigators said the driver had put his dog back inside. The dog appeared to be badly hurt, according to investigators.

“It got some injuries to its front paws, and some severe bruising around its neck and it was also bleeding pretty extensively,” an investigator said.

Investigators said the driver and owner of the dog, 41-year-old Miguel Sanchez, of Cumming, was driving drunk. He told deputies he didn’t know his dog, who he said was leashed to the back of the pickup and had gotten out.

Deputies determined the dog needed immediate attention from a veterinarian, according to sheriff’s officials. The dog was taken to a local animal hospital for treatment from the scene.

Sanchez was arrested  and  charged  with  DUI,  driving  on  a  suspended  license,  and  animal cruelty. He was taken to the Forsyth County Detention Center where he remains. His bond was set at $4,680.50, sheriff’s officials said.

It is unknown whether Sanchez will be able to reclaim the dog once released from jail.

WSBTV