Dog owner ‘devastated’

Police have not charged anyone with ill-treating a dog after it was dragged along the road behind a four-wheel-drive vehicle, in Greymouth just after midnight yesterday.
A Greymouth police spokeswoman yesterday incorrectly said a young Dunollie man and Christchurch woman had been charged.
Sergeant Brent Cook said today the police initially believed the act had been deliberate but now realised it may have been an innocent mistake that cost a man his beloved pet.
“We are still making inquiries and have other witnesses to interview to make sure it was an accident.
“The owner of the dog is devastated that he put his pet through what would have been a very unpleasant death.”
The couple had earlier stopped and let the the dog out to get some fresh air, tying it to the side of the vehicle, but apparently they got distracted and forgot about it when they later took off.
The vehicle was spotted in Lord Street, with the dog being dragged behind, but by then it was dead.