News Article: Authorities Investigating Video Showing Dog Chained to Trailer Driving 70 mph

Flagler Animal Services is investigating the video, said Jeffery Ritter, development coordinator for the Flagler Humane Society. The dog seen in the video is a Blue American Pitbull Terrier named Zeus, who does not like to ride in the crate, Ritter said. So his owner, who said he uses the dog for hunting, allows him to ride outside, Ritter said.

A Flagler County ordinance allows people to travel with a dog in that manner as long as the animal is tethered twice to the vehicle. Dogs being transported in the open bed of pickup trucks or any other type of open vehicle must either be confined to a pen or be restrained by a "minimum of two tethers or some other similar method to safely control or restrain the dogs from easily escaping the vehicles," No. 93-15 S 4, 11-15-93 of the Flagler County Code of Ordinances states.
Zeus was only tethered to the trailer once, Ritter said.
"The driver didn't have any bad intentions," he said. "...He honestly didn't know any better."
Zeus' owner is cooperating with the investigation and has agreed to allow animal services to conduct wellness checks, Ritter said.
Once the Humane Society wraps up the investigation, it will turn over its findings to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, which will determine if a crime was committed, Flagler Police Chief Mark Strobridge told ABC News. At minimum, Zeus' owner faces a ticket and fine under the Flagler County Ordinance, Ritter said.

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Elefantman said:

If riding like that is good for the dog it should be good the owner. He should be chained to the cage like that and have to ride around at 70 MPH.

Poor dog.

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danb said:

I am totally against the mistreatment of animals, but I really don't see this as something so heinous as to make news headlines.

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Bodhisattva said:

I can't imagine a thought process that would lead me to believe tethering a dog in such a fashion was a good idea. Yet such idiots have multiple pets .... and likely multiple kids. Such a boon for society.

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