The Kern County District Attorney’s Office in Bakersfield, California, has filed a felony animal cruelty charge and misdemeanor charge against the woman who dragged a small dog down the street behind her electric scooter in early January.
The felony charge could result in a maximum of three years in jail and a fine of up to $20,000, while the misdemeanor charge could add a further six months jail time.
Local resident James Dowell posted home security camera footage of this cruel act on Facebook, and the video quickly went viral.
Brandon Sanders and his girlfriend were cycling in the area and witnessed the woman, Elaine Rosa, dragging the dog down the street. Sanders also posted the incident on Facebook.
“The dog was on its side and we watched it being drug at least 100 yards and there’s no telling how long she had been dragging it for before we saw her,” wrote Sanders. “You can see that its paws are all completely bloody. I was unable to get a good picture of the poor dog’s side.”
After pursuing Rosa, Sanders confronted her and took photos. She smiled while posing with the dog, whose feet were bloodied from the trauma. Concerned for the dog’s wellbeing, the pair followed her to an apartment and called the police to report the abuse.
Local news media later reported that Rosa was not the dog’s guardian, but he received appropriate medical care and was returned to his home.
Rosa is now out on bail, and no date has been set for her arraignment. Her lawyer stated that they intend to cooperate fully with the investigation, and claims that Rosa is an animal lover.
“My client loves animals, especially Zebra, the dog who was shown in the video,” stated Rosa’s lawyer. “We are confident that once law enforcement has concluded their investigation that this will be ruled an isolated incident.
Thanks to the intervention of these local residents, this act of cruelty was documented, giving the Bakersfield Police Department the evidence needed to pursue these charges.
Help urge prosecutors to treat this case with the severity it deserves. Sign LFT’s petition below:
SIGN: Justice for Dog Dragged Down the Street Behind Scooter
