Updated: Dog in Back of Moving Truck Dies, Driver Charged with Misdemeanor

Updated Tuesday, 1:30 p.m.

A witnesses spotted Mason pulling at the dog, Scottie, who was unresponsive and tangled in a lawn chair in the back of a moving truck, according to the incident report, which is attached.

The passerby said Mason was "yanking" on Scottie's leg and he was so shocked, he physically stopped Mason "from pulling the dog's paw off."

Updated Tuesday, 12 p.m.

Police will not file new charges against Mason in connection with the dog's death, Camp said.

"For the charge of animal cruelty as a felony, there would have to have been malicious intent on his part to purposely hurt the dog," he added. "As there was no malicious intent, the misdemeanor charge will stand."

Updated Tuesday, 9 a.m.

The dog left Monday in the back of a U-haul truck died overnight, Camp said this morning.

"I am not sure at this time how this will affect Mr. Mason’s charges," but authorities are investigating upgrading the misdemeanor animal cruelty charge, Camp added.

Mason has been released on bond, Sgt. Jonathan Rogers said.

Original Report

this morning arrested a Savannah man whose dog was later treated for exhaustion and low glucose levels.

Authorities responded to after they received a complaint the man was driving a U-haul through Cartersville with his Cocker Spaniel-mix in the back of the moving truck, according to a news release.

When police arrived, the dog was lying next to the truck in the parking lot in apparent physical distress and a concerned citizen was pouring water on the dog to help cool it down.

Jerry Mason, 50, of Savannah, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty. He was traveling from Savannah to Kentucky, he told police.

Police say Mason said the dog had been riding with him in the cab of the truck but became unruly. East of Atlanta, Mason put the dog into the box portion of the truck, which authorities say was completely packed with moving boxes, loose furniture, a lawnmower and other items. 

Mason said the pooch had only been in the back of the truck for an hour and he "did not think an hour was a long period of time to keep the dog in the back of the truck," according to the release.

An animal control officer took the dog to a nearby veterinarian for treatment of a possible heat stroke.  

"We cannot stress enough the importance of not keeping animals locked in vehicles where there is no circulation," Chief Tommy Culpepper said. "Animals simply cannot tolerate the amount of heat that an enclosed area generates in this summer weather. 

"An animal can be in distress within minutes due to the high temperatures we have been experiencing."

This afternoon, the dog was still in care of the veterinarian.