CHICAGO — A man has been charged with felony animal torture after he allegedly dragged a bleeding puppy along an Austin sidewalk, leaving a trail of blood for two blocks, police said.
Jonathan Hunter, 32, was arrested on the 4800 block of West Le Moyne Street on Monday.
Police say he was seen dragging a brown brindle pit bull puppy along an Austin sidewalk at about 11 a.m. Monday. Pulling the puppy along on its belly caused lacerations, leaving the trail of blood, prosecutors said.
Police determined that the puppy couldn't walk because of a displaced left hip and cuts to both of his hind paws, according to a police report. Hunter allegedly told police that he was returning to puppy to the person who sold it to him because it was a female, and he'd asked for a male dog.
The 6 to 9-month-old puppy also had worms and went to the bathroom all over the house, according to the report.
According to Brad Powers, spokesman for Animal Care and Control, the brown mixed breed female puppy received care from the department’s veterinarian staff Monday, though further details are unavailable due to the police investigation.
Cook County Judge Laura Sullivan ordered Hunter held on $60,000 bail on Tuesday. He will return to court April 14.