Crime & Safety
Dog Dragging Leads to Pet's Death, Man's Arrest
The chihuahua was so badly injured it had to be put to sleep; its owner has been charged with felony animal cruelty.
A man who dragged his pet chihuahua down the sidewalk and so severely it that the dog had to be euthanized has been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals.
Witnesses who saw William J. Heric, 51, violently pulling his two female chihuahuas down the street at about 10:20 a.m. Wednesday called Joliet police and were able to flag down Officer Moises Avila, according to a story in the Joliet Herald-News.
When Avila spotted Heric near Cass and Briggs streets, he was carrying one of the dogs, which was bleeding from his front paws, chin and mouth, he said. The dog was unable to stand and was twitching and shaking, leading Avila to conclude it had neurological damage and would need to be put to sleep, he told the paper.
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The second dog was confiscated and Heric arrested, the report said.
Heric remains held in the in lieu of $20,000 bond.
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