A man from Rocky View County is out $1,500 for driving with his dog tethered to an open flatbed trailer on Stoney Trail in Calgary.

The fine comes as part of a joint submission between the Crown and defence that saw criminal and Animal Protection Act charges dropped against Volodymyr Irodenko.

The incident took place Oct. 27, around 4:30 p.m., when witnesses saw and photographed the dog on a trailer with no side walls, towed behind a black SUV travelling approximately 80 kilometres per hour.

The dog was not injured.

Explaining why the animal was behind the truck, tied with a leash, Irodenko said he was taking his dog to a car wash after it had been sprayed by a skunk.

"Mr. Irodenko showed a serious lapse of judgment in transporting his dog in this manner regardless of the fact that it was skunked," said Judge Michael Dinkel. "That is not a justifiable excuse."

'Am I under oath?'

The judge then turned to Irodenko to see if he felt remorse for his actions, but at first only received a reply from the defence lawyer about the backlash Irodenko faced for the incident.

When pressed by the judge, Irodenko said the dog was strong and well trained and that it was not in distress.

"You're telling me you don't feel bad about what you did?" asked Dinkel.

"Am I under oath?" replied Irodenko.

The judge didn't respond and turned his attention to the fine, which Irodenko has six months to pay.