Mesa County, CO – A 66-year-old Colorado man is facing animal cruelty charges after dragging his puppy behind a moving vehicle and causing the dog to sustain deadly injuries. According to the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened on July 16 in the Connected Lakes area.

As reported in a news release, multiple people attempted to get the attention of Melton Brown as he drove with the nine-month-old blue heeler tethered to the bumper. The release states:

Witnesses observed the dog being dragged while tied to the back of a vehicle. They advised deputies they were honking and yelling at the vehicle to stop, but it continued on. Several other people in the area also tried to get the vehicle to stop without success. Witnesses on the scene provided a license plate number that came back to registered owner Melton Brown.

Brown was later found at an area veterinary clinic where deputies learned that the blue heeler had already been euthanized for “severe injuries.”

Brown claimed that he normally tied the pup to his bumper during the day and stated that he “forgot the dog was still tied” the bumper when he drove away. He claims that he did not see anyone trying to get his attention or stop him.

Brown was charged with one count of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals, a class Four Felony (F4); he was taken to the Mesa County Detention facility.

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