One dog is dead, and another is recovering after being dragged behind a car near Lithonia in September.
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A search is underway in DeKalb County for the driver who disturbingly dragged two dogs behind a car before leaving them for dead in a parking lot.
One of the dogs, described as a medium-sized black colored mixed breed male, died. He was believed to be between 1 and 7 years old.
It happened on Sept. 13 around 8 p.m. Video from a security camera in the parking lot of the Redan Recreation Center off Phillips Road near Lithonia shows a car pull into the parking lot.
Someone gets out of the car, unties the dogs, and then drives off.
The second dog — believed to now be 10 months old — has been named Laydon by the staff at the DeKalb County Animal Services. That is where Laydon has been recovering from serious injuries.
Investigators say the security video shows a man driving a dark four-door sedan believed to be a 2008-2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The driver was wearing dark pants, a white baseball cap and a dark gray top with a white logo on the chest and white writing across the back.
“We had a witness pretty shortly afterward who pulled into that parking lot and noticed the dogs and immediately called to report them,” said Claire Simms Chaffins, Director of Communications with the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office.
A DeKalb County Animal Enforcement officer headed to the parking lot and found the dogs with ropes tied around their necks.
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Photos | Laydon, dog who survived being dragged behind car in DeKalb County
Simms Chaffins said the license plate of the car is unknown and it appears the driver might have spotted the camera.
“Instead of just pulling out like you normally would, he actually backed out of the parking lot, which made it impossible for us to see his license plate,” Simms Chaffins said.
County investigators are now searching nearby neighborhoods and other areas with the hope of learning the car’s license plate number.
According to the DA’s office, video from the parking lot camera is now being released after it was enhanced by the FBI. Where the driver is from is also still unknown.
“Based on our investigation, because one of the dogs survived, we do believe that this person didn’t have them behind the car very long,” Simms-Chaffins said. “I don’t know if that means they live in the area or if they pulled over somewhere and tied them to the back of the car close to the recreation center. But we don’t believe they were behind the car for more than a mile at most.”
Simms-Chaffins can’t understand why someone would commit the crime that was caught on camera.
“The only reason that someone would tie two dogs to the back of a car would be to hurt or to kill them.”
While one dog did die, it appears Laydon is making a remarkable recovery and has brighter days ahead.
“Lifeline has already found him someone to adopt him,” Simms-Chaffins said. “So, hopefully, he will be going home soon.”
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call DeKalb County Animal Enforcement’s tip line at 404-294-2939.
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