Dog dies after being dragged behind car

By VIV LOGIE
A couple have been charged with ill treating a dog after they drove their vehicle along the road, dragging the pet behind.
By the time the police stopped the vehicle in Lord Street, just after midnight, the dog was dead.
Police became aware of the “disgraceful act” when they observed another vehicle flashing its lights at a vehicle in front of it.
The following vehicle had noticed the four wheel drive Nissan Terrano in front was dragging the dog.
The animal had been chained to the vehicle. Its owners said they had earlier stopped and when they drove off again, they “forgot” to lift it back on.
“When we spoke to the pair they said it was an accident and they had forgotten to put the animal onto the back of the vehicle.”
Police could not understand how such a thing could have happened, saying that the animal must have been making crying sounds, at the very least.
The alleged offenders, a man from Dunollie aged 23 and a 19-year-old Christchurch woman will appear in the Greymouth District Court later this month. Police could not immediately say this morning what breed the dog was.