The DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office is urgently calling for the public's assistance to help identify a man involved in a harrowing act of animal cruelty. On the evening of September 13, a man was captured by surveillance footage at Redan Recreation Center in Lithonia, where he was seen dragging two dogs behind his vehicle. The man proceeded to unceremoniously untie the dogs from the bumper and abandon them in the parking lot, one of which did not survive the ordeal.
According to a statement from the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office, the cruel event took place around 8 p.m. The suspect made efforts to conceal his identity and the vehicle's registration by backing out of the parking lot to presumably avoid the capture of his license plate number on camera. A witness who came across the traumatized dogs later contacted the authorities.
An officer with DeKalb County Animal Enforcement responded swiftly and found the two dogs, each secured with rope around their necks. The deceased canine was described as a medium-sized, black, mixed breed male, aged between one and seven years. The surviving dog, a nine-month-old medium-sized, brindle, mixed breed male, suffered from severe injuries and is now being cared for by DeKalb County Animal Services/Lifeline Animal Project.
The vehicle implicated in this senseless act of violence is believed to be a dark four-door sedan, likely a Chevrolet Malibu model from 2008 to 2012. Eyewitness descriptions of the suspect note that he was dressed in dark pants, a white baseball cap, and a dark gray top embellished with a white logo on the chest and white lettering across the back. The officials are working to quickly ascertain further information and locate the individual responsible.
DeKalb County officials urge anyone with information about the incident or the suspect to step forward. Those with potential leads or details are prompted to contact the DeKalb County Animal Enforcement tip line at 404-294-2939.
