By By Lisa Tindell – news editor
A pit bull dragged from a truck and left for dead near Flomaton may have belonged to hurricane evacuees heading back to Louisiana or Mississippi - and the incident may have been an accident.
An eyewitness told Escambia County animal cruelty investigator Renee Jones that the eyewitness had seen the dog alive in the back of a truck that was part of a small caravan of vehicles with license plates from those states.
Jones, who is director of the Humane Society of Escambia County, said the dog - which she named Sam - had to be euthanized after it was found bleeding and injured on Highway 113 in Flomaton.
Jones said a call was made to the Escambia County Sheriff's Department Tuesday evening at about 6 p.m.
Jones said a black, four-door truck was seen with a rope tied to the hitch ball of the truck and to the neck of the dog, according to witnesses. Witnesses also said a second pit bull was in the bed of the truck at the time of the incident.
Jones said witnesses also said the men returned to their vehicles and drove around the animal headed toward I-65.
Jones said according to information from all witnesses, the dragging of the dog could have possibly been an accident.
Jones said witnesses claim the dog struggled to his feet after being left by the caravan of vehicles and staggered to the edge of the road where he collapsed.
Jones said the dog was transported to Atmore Animal Clinic where he was humanely euthanized.
Rewards of $2,800 have been put up for information leading to identification, arrest and conviction of the people responsible for the incident, Jones said.
Anyone with information concerning this incident or any other animal cruelty cases is asked to contact Jones at 867-6860 or the Escambia County Sheriffs Department.