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UPDATE: Woman, man charged after RCMP say dog dragged behind car on Alberta highway

WARNING: This article contains graphic details and may be disturbing to some

RCMP say charges are pending against a Calgary woman after a dog had to be put down because of injuries it suffered being pulled behind a car. The owner told Global News it was an accident and that she didn’t realize the dog was tied to the back of the car when she drove off.

Strathmore RCMP were called just after noon Sunday by a Canadian Pacific (CP) railway police officer who was stopped along Highway 1 in the area of Range Road 270. The officer reported seeing a black Pontiac Vibe dragging a dog on a leash down the highway.

RCMP responded and joined the CP officer in patrolling the area, but were unable to locate the vehicle or the dog.

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At around 6:40 p.m. Sunday, RCMP received a call from resident who reported seeing a vehicle with a dog tied to it in a field off Range Road 265 and Township Road 242.

A dog had to be put down after being dragged behind a vehicle July 2, 2017. Cody Coates/Global News

Kaylee Waldner said a woman came to her home, asking to use the phone and for some water.

Waldner said she thought the woman was acting strangely.

“She came walking up the driveway, we were standing together (in the yard) and she started walking (away from everyone) towards our shed area.”

She said someone later came to pick the woman up.

Waldner said she then saw the same vehicle that picked the woman up driving past her home. She went outside and said she saw a “black car with a dog tied up.”

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“The dog had the entire side of his face missing… and part of his paw was missing,” she told Global News.

“It was horrible.” Tweet This

The driver wasn’t present at the time.

Officers responded and asked Waldner if she would take the dog to the veterinarian.

“It was a really nice dog,” she said. “We were trying to lift him into the truck and he couldn’t lift his hind legs.

“It was pretty obvious he was in a lot of distress.” Tweet This

The vet ruled the dog’s injuries were too extensive and the dog was put down.

WARNING: Some may find the photos in this gallery graphic

This dog had to be put down because of injuries it suffered after being pulled behind a car. Charges are pending against a Calgary woman, RCMP said July 4, 2017. Provided to Global News This dog had to be put down because of injuries it suffered after being pulled behind a car. Charges are pending against a Calgary woman, RCMP said July 4, 2017. Provided to Global News This dog had to be put down because of injuries it suffered after being pulled behind a car. Charges are pending against a Calgary woman, RCMP said July 4, 2017. Provided to Global News Provided to Global News

The investigation led to the arrest of a 40-year-old Calgary woman, who police say is the owner and was the driver of the vehicle at the time.

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A woman who identified herself as the owner of the dog to Global News but didn’t want her named used, said Tuesday afternoon the entire incident was a freak accident.

She said she and her boyfriend were parked along Highway 1 and she thought her boyfriend had moved the dog from one vehicle to the other, but he had actually tied the dog to the back of her car.

Seeing him talking to something in the backseat of his vehicle, she thought the dog was inside and she drove her car away.

“I did not do it and I did not know he was there,” she said. “I’m so crushed.”

She said she didn’t drive very far, and was only going about 30 km/hr, when she realized someone was honking at her and she stopped. That’s when she found her dog.

She told Global News she then went from home to home in the area asking to use people’s phones. She claimed no one would help her and she had no gas to get her dog to the vet, so she laid him in a field to pass away.

The woman said she was charged with three counts of animal abuse on Sunday. Strathmore RCMP said in a news release Tuesday morning that one charge of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal is pending.

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“I think it’s a pretty sick and disgusting case of animal abuse,” Waldner said. “It’s a pretty awful thing to do.”

“I’ve had him for 10… years and he’s never been hurt, never been to a vet, never felt pain before,” the woman said.

“I’m horrified. That was my boy. This is the most horrible thing that could have happened to him.” Tweet This

Anyone who may have witnessed the dog being dragged is asked to call Strathmore RCMP at 403-934-3535.