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July 4, 2007

Animal Cruelty To A Small Puppy

A Pensacola man has been charged with animal cruelty.

He was arrested tonight and is accused of dragging a puppy behind his truck.

Tara Brown has more on this Channel Three Exclusive.

Tonight this puppy survived a horrific ordeal and the man responsible is behind bars.

"911 what‘s your emergency?"

A little after 5:25 Wednesday...Escambia Emergency Dispatch took the call from a witness saying a Chihuahua puppy was being dragged alongside an S-U-V.

Deputy Cephas/Escambia Co. Sheriff‘s Dept.
" There was a little Chihuahua dog that was being drug along the street by a leash."

The puppy, a four month old chihuahua named Bugsy... barely survived the ordeal. Witnesses told officers they followed the the driver until he pulled his SUV over.

Deputy Cephas/Escambia Co. Sheriff‘s Dept.
"They asked the owner if he was going to take him to the hospital and he said no"

Veterinarian Gibbs:
"The skin on all four of his feet is pretty much gone...you can see burn marks... basically road burn."

And that was enough for Escambia County Officers to make an arrest....deputies handcuffed 51 year old Pompeyo Lopez Marales at his home on Seminole Trail In Pensacola. He‘s charged with cruelty to animals and could face a year in jail.

Veterinarian, Schalsee Gibbs says she won‘t euthanize Bugsy if someone comes forward to adopt him.

"We would much prefer for somebody to adopt him rather than for him to be put to sleep...he‘s a little guy and he‘s made it through quite a bit."

The puppy is up for adoption tonight at the Veterinarian Emergency Referral Center...As long as someone can cover his medical bills.

You can call 850- 434-2924 or tomorrow at the Escambia County Animal Shelter.