Petition: Witnesses Heard Her Screaming From 200 Feet Away. Lola Didn’t Survive.

On a Thursday night in June, drivers along Grand Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa saw something they will not forget: a dog hanging from a car window by her leash, being dragged along the pavement as the vehicle traveled at speed. Witnesses told police the dog was dragged at least eight blocks, striking the road and the car’s tire, and that they could hear her screaming from more than 200 feet away. When her collar finally snapped, the driver continued on for several more blocks before turning around and coming back. Her name was Lola. Bystanders rushed her to a veterinary clinic, and the Animal Rescue League of Iowa took over her care, saying she arrived with severe injuries across much of her body and needed round-the-clock treatment to manage her pain. It was not enough. Lola’s injuries were beyond extensive, she began experiencing organ dysfunction, and on June 16 veterinarians made the decision to humanely euthanize her. The 60-year-old driver has been charged with animal torture, drug possession, and operating while impaired; officers reported signs of impairment when they questioned him, and he told authorities he did not know the dog was being dragged. Please sign the petition demanding real accountability.

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A conviction alone will not protect the next animal. This petition asks the court, if the charges are proven, to impose three things together: mandatory mental health counseling, a substance abuse treatment program, and a lifetime ban on owning animals. Impairment is central to what the complaint describes, which is exactly why treatment and a permanent ownership ban belong alongside any sentence — punishment that ignores the cause invites a repeat, and the next animal in that car would have no better chance than Lola did. If you have ever wondered what to do when you see something like this happening, One Green Planet’s guide on what to do if you suspect animal abuse in your neighborhood walks through it. The local reporting on Lola’s death is available via WHO 13.

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