heidiho
August 3rd, 2004, 06:40 PM
A west Phoenix man accused of dragging his runaway dog behind a pickup truck for nearly a mile said he made an error in judgment and never intended to harm the animal.
Herminio Velasquez, 32, said he is heartsick about the injuries to his 4-year-old female chow and is embarrassed by the community's outcry over his actions.
"I love the dog. My children love the dog. It's part of the family," Velasquez said Monday night, hours after being released from a Maricopa County jail. "It was only a mile to my house. I never thought it would hurt the dog. I wasn't thinking about that."
Velasquez was arrested Sunday on suspicion of felony animal cruelty after he was accused of tying the chow to the back of his pickup because he didn't want to lift the dog into the truck and risk dirtying his clothes before attending church, authorities said.
Velasquez told authorities his wife drove the truck about 10 mph until he noticed the dog was being dragged. He then got out of the pickup and walked the dog home, leaving a 500-yard trail of bloody paw prints behind him, Phoenix police Sgt. Jantra Palmer said.
The chow lost the pads and nails on her paws and suffered serious burn injuries from the ordeal, said Ronnie McGuire, an emergency animal medical technician with the Arizona Humane Society.
The dog remained at a Humane Society shelter Monday, where she received treatment for the injuries. Veterinarians do not believe the wounds are life threatening.
"She's a really sweet dog. It just makes me wonder what crosses these people's minds. There had to be a different alternative," McGuire said. "I don't care if I was in a tuxedo. You can always wash your clothes or get them dry cleaned."
A Maricopa County judge released Velasquez from jail Monday and ordered him to appear at a preliminary court hearing Aug. 18.
Prosecutors will consider this week whether to file formal animal cruelty charges against Velasquez, said Bill FitzGerald, a spokesman with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. Police also are recommending felony charges against his wife, but she has not been arrested.
If Velasquez is found guilty of the charge, he faces a maximum of two years in prison.
Humane Society officials will hold the dog unless they receive a court order to return her to the family, spokeswoman Kim Noetzel said. By law, Velasquez automatically loses custody of the dog if he is convicted of or pleads guilty to animal cruelty.
But Velasquez said he plans to petition a judge to grant him custody of the dog, which he got about four years ago when she was a puppy.
He calls the chow Centineda, which he said means "always smart and takes care of the house."
"People think I don't love my dog, but that's wrong," Velasquez said.
"I love my dog."
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Herminio Velasquez, 32, said he is heartsick about the injuries to his 4-year-old female chow and is embarrassed by the community's outcry over his actions.
"I love the dog. My children love the dog. It's part of the family," Velasquez said Monday night, hours after being released from a Maricopa County jail. "It was only a mile to my house. I never thought it would hurt the dog. I wasn't thinking about that."
Velasquez was arrested Sunday on suspicion of felony animal cruelty after he was accused of tying the chow to the back of his pickup because he didn't want to lift the dog into the truck and risk dirtying his clothes before attending church, authorities said.
Velasquez told authorities his wife drove the truck about 10 mph until he noticed the dog was being dragged. He then got out of the pickup and walked the dog home, leaving a 500-yard trail of bloody paw prints behind him, Phoenix police Sgt. Jantra Palmer said.
The chow lost the pads and nails on her paws and suffered serious burn injuries from the ordeal, said Ronnie McGuire, an emergency animal medical technician with the Arizona Humane Society.
The dog remained at a Humane Society shelter Monday, where she received treatment for the injuries. Veterinarians do not believe the wounds are life threatening.
"She's a really sweet dog. It just makes me wonder what crosses these people's minds. There had to be a different alternative," McGuire said. "I don't care if I was in a tuxedo. You can always wash your clothes or get them dry cleaned."
A Maricopa County judge released Velasquez from jail Monday and ordered him to appear at a preliminary court hearing Aug. 18.
Prosecutors will consider this week whether to file formal animal cruelty charges against Velasquez, said Bill FitzGerald, a spokesman with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. Police also are recommending felony charges against his wife, but she has not been arrested.
If Velasquez is found guilty of the charge, he faces a maximum of two years in prison.
Humane Society officials will hold the dog unless they receive a court order to return her to the family, spokeswoman Kim Noetzel said. By law, Velasquez automatically loses custody of the dog if he is convicted of or pleads guilty to animal cruelty.
But Velasquez said he plans to petition a judge to grant him custody of the dog, which he got about four years ago when she was a puppy.
He calls the chow Centineda, which he said means "always smart and takes care of the house."
"People think I don't love my dog, but that's wrong," Velasquez said.
"I love my dog."
Print This | Email This | Most Popular | Subscribe | Larger Type | Smaller Type News Headlines
• 7 reportedly ill after AC goes out on flight
• Owner regretful he hurt dog
• 2 suspects in carjacking, shooting caught in Biltmore area
• Phoenix ranked low on literate list
• Arizonans welcome new clout vs. HOAs
• Photo radar on Loop 101 draws praise
• Lawmakers may revisit jury duty law
• Today on Arizona Midday
• Walkers remind parents about 1st day of school
• Epic energy tale nears end as transformer arrives in Valley
• Troubles dogging polygamy prophet
• Riding buses easier with on-board info
• Voter campaign targeting Latinos
• Gordon opposes aerial spraying
• Florence chosen as site of next Anthem
azcentral.com - News • Sports • Money • Entertainment • Style • Travel • Health • Food & Home • Shop
The Arizona Republic - Front Page • News • Local • Sports • Arizona Living • Opinions • Jobs
• autos
• business
• CareerBuilder
• personals
• real estate
• rentals
• services
• stuff
• 12 news video
• contact 12
• weather
• obituaries
• lottery
• jobs at 12
• about 12
12 news main | news | 12 news today | weather | sports | about 12 | community | what's on 12
site map | azcentral.com