Animal cruelty in the U.S. comes in many forms. Depending on the report you read, anywhere up to 1 million animals are abused each year, the most extreme of which can result in the death of the animal.

The following case illustrates just home how cruel such abuse can be.

The police were called to the scene of heinous animal cruelty

A 79-year-old Okaloosa County, Florida, man is in jail after chaining and dragging his German shepherd to its death due to exhaustion. Police were called after witnesses reported seeing Dean Woodyatt dragging his dog behind a golf cart.

Witnesses tried to stop the abuse

Woodyatt was said to have initially ignored the honk of protests from nearby motorists. He continued to resist even after Good Samaritans tried to help the dog after it had collapsed. While it is unknown how long Woodyatt dragged the dog behind the golf cart, the dog did end up dying from heat-related injuries after someone was eventually able to stop Woodyatt in the cart.

Woodyatt was arrested and taken to jail

When police arrived, the German shepherd was laying on the ground struggling to breathe. In addition to its breathing problems, the dog also had injuries to all four of its feet. As police attempted to help the dog, Woodyatt grabbed the leash and attempted to leave. He was eventually arrested and taken to the Okaloosa County Jail. The dog eventually died on the scene from its injuries.

At the request of the department, a Panhandle Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) animal control officer responded to the scene. The remains of the dog were transported to the PAWS veterinary clinic, where it was to receive a full necropsy. PAWS plans to pursue any applicable charges against Woodyatt.

“Animal cruelty is never acceptable in a civilized society,” said PAWS Interim Executive Director Melissa Forberg to the Northwest Florida Daily News.

Animal cruelty laws in the U.S.

Fortunately, laws are in place in all 50 states in the U.S. to try and stop the abuse and neglect of animals. Recent changes in federal laws make it a federal crime to engage in such acts. The downside is that there are still some who continue to engage in such acts of cruelty.

What to do if you witness animal abuse or neglect

The best thing you can do if you witness an act of animal abuse or neglect is to report the abuser to the proper authorities. You can do so by calling your local animal control agency or 911 if you are unfamiliar with the area.

You should also document the abuse so that the authorities have a good idea of what happened, including taking down the name of the abuser, if possible. You should also write down the type of abuse, the location where it occurred, and the time and date that it happened.

Watch the video below for more information on what you should do if you witness animal abuse or neglect.

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Source: Idaho Statesman

H/T: The Sun, nfwdailynews.com