A 70-year-old man faces a number of charges, including driving disorder after allegedly dragging a small dog next to his moving vehicle in Mississauga on Wednesday afternoon.
Police say officers were first dispatched to the Winston Churchill Boulevard and Destination Drive area around 4 p.m. after receiving multiple emergency calls.
Several concerned citizens intervened after watching the man pull the dog on a leash. The Good Samaritans managed to stop the vehicle, whereupon the driver dropped the leash and drove away.
Police said the dog, a 7-month-old Pomeranian named Sky, was rushed to an Emergency Veterinary Hospital in Oakville, where it was being treated for unspecified injuries.
The dog is expected to make a full recovery.
Police said the hospital received “countless” offers to donate money after the incident but was unable to accept donations and would prefer individuals to make a donation to their local humane society instead.
Meanwhile, the suspect was arrested at an apartment in Mississauga later Wednesday.
Jose Tavares, 70, is charged with injuring an animal, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and interfering with the operation of a means of transport.
The police are still investigating and are asking anyone with video footage to contact the 11th Division Criminal Investigation Bureau at (905) 453-2121, ext. 1133.
