An elderly Vars-area man is facing charges of animal cruelty after allegedly dragging his German Shepherd behind a truck in East Ottawa.
Witnesses say it happened around 6 p.m. Sunday evening on Carlsbad Lane, in the east Ottawa area.
Witnesses called 911 to report the disturbing scene. They say the dog was dragged for at least half a kilometre.
The dog, a 2-year-old German Shepherd named Tyson, was put into the care of the Ottawa Humane Society.
Police have charged 72-year-old Adrien Paquette of Vars with willfully causing pain or injury to an animal, willful neglect, and uttering threats.
Tyson was treated for lacerations and bruises to his legs and paws. On Monday afternoon, Humane Society staff said he was doing much better, but appeared to be having trouble putting weight on one of his back paws.
Bruce Roney of the Ottawa Humane Society is reacting to these latest allegations of animal cruelty with shock.
"(I'm reacting) with some degree of horror frankly, just on the heels of so many cases, that we saw another case like this," he said. " I don't know what's going on."
Neighbours on Carlsbad Lane call the case disturbing.
"It's just terrible the fact that this would happen in the first place," one dog-owner on the street said.
"Some people shouldn't have animals. They just shouldn't be allowed to have them at all," said another.
Tyson will be monitored at the Humane Society for at least a week, until he is well enough to be put up for adoption.
He is expected to make a full recovery.
With files from CTV's Claudia Cautillo
