By: Associated Press//August 25, 2016//
CRANDON, Wis. (AP) — A judge has entered not-guilty pleas on behalf of a northeastern Wisconsin man accused of dragging his dog with a vehicle.
Seventy-five-year-old James Merschdorf of Wabeno stood mute at his first court appearance Wednesday. Merschdorf faces misdemeanor charges of mistreating animals and intentionally leading an animal from a car.
WAOW-TV reports no trial date was set.
The complaint says Merschdorf told investigators he didn’t know he had dragged the beagle named Josephine until he stopped at a convenience store June 29. A witness said the dog was tied to the car’s passenger mirror.
The 6-year-old dog is in veterinary care in Rhinelander.
Katie Brueggen, one of the veterinarians who helped treat the dog, tells WSAW-TV the beagle “had essentially major road rash along the entire right half of her body.”