Dog dies after being dragged from vehicle in St. Clair County, suspect held
.jpeg "Helpful humans use wet towels in attempt to cool down an overheated dog who was dragged from a vehicle in Washington Park. Gateway Pet Guardians stepped in to assist with the dog’s medical expenses, but ultimately the dog died.")
One person is being held in jail and calls for donations to metro-east animal shelter are surfacing after a dog was dragged from a vehicle in Washington Park.
Washington Park Police Chief Allen Bonds said the department received a call about 5:45 p.m. Wednesday from a bystander who said they saw a dog being thrown from a truck. Police found the dog, a Rottweiler, in distress and foaming at the mouth on the side of Bunkum Road near Miss Kitty’s adult entertainment club, he said.
Bonds said security video showed the dog had been dragged from a vehicle and was “left for dead” when police found him.
A Miss Kitty’s employee told a Gateway Pet Guardians employee about the incident, the shelter’s operations director, Jill Henke, said. Gateway Pet Guardians directed police to bring the dog to Collinsville Animal Emergency Clinic and covered nearly $1,000 in emergency veterinary care expenses, Henke said.
The dog died early the next morning; veterinary staff made the decision to euthanize him after his condition worsened and he began having seizures, according to a Facebook post from the shelter.
“We have no regrets, because every animal deserves compassion and care,” the post says.
Henke said Gateway Pet Guardians staff performed a necropsy — or animal autopsy — on the dog. He had light bruising, presumably from being dragged. While an official cause of death was not determined, Henke said veterinarians think it may have been heat-related.
The dog had a dangerously high body temperature, the shelter said in its post.
Gateway Pet Guardians Executive Director Alisha Vianello and Henke said they felt it was important to share the incident on social media in part to praise the Washington Park Police Department’s response. Both said officers made it clear they intended to see the person who harmed the dog prosecuted.
“We hate the outcome, but I think a lot of things went right … we’re very proud that Washington Park Police made it a priority,” Henke said.
Bonds said the department is submitting evidence and preparing to present a case for charges to be filed with the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office. The suspect is currently on a 48-hour hold in the St. Clair County Jail, Bonds said.
How to donate to Gateway Pet Guardians
Henke said the shelter does not receive government funding and relies solely on donations.
Gateway Pet Guardians’ post encourages people who want to honor the Rottweiler’s memory and help other animals in need to donate to the shelter online at give.gatewaypets.org, via Venmo @Gatewaypets (listed under “Charities”) or through the shelter’s Facebook post.
Aside from monetary donations, Henke said the shelter is always in need of bottled water, paper towels, leashes, laundry detergent, peanut butter and soft dog treats. Call 618-687-8007 to arrange a time to drop off donations.
What to do if you think a dog is overheating
A dog experiencing an overheating emergency may be panting while lying on its side and may urinate or defecate on itself, Henke said.
Henke said those who suspect their dog is overheating should immediately move it to the coolest area possible, use ice packs and seek veterinary care if necessary. She stressed time is of the essence, as quick medical care can ensure dogs get fluids needed to help prevent neurological damage.
If one suspects an unknown dog is overheating, Henke said to call police right away.