VIDEO: Dog Choked to Death by Staff at Chicago Pound

Another video Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the city of Chicago didn’t want anyone to see has been released to the public. A surveillance video from the Animal Care and Control Department — showing a dog being choked to death by city employees and dragged by its neck — was obtained by the Better Government Association after a year and a half legal battle.

The dog, described as a “pit bull-type,” was named Spike and was brought to the city pound at 2741 S. Western Ave. by its owner on March 15, 2014, reports the BGA. The dog, surrendered because of its aggression, struggled against the “noose-like” restraints the animal control workers put around its neck.

“The video does not even show we were fighting with the dog . . . big time,” one of the employees, who was subsequently suspended, told the BGA. “I’m not perfect ... it was an unfortunate accident.”

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According to the BGA report:

The video (with no audio) shows the dog thrashing, then going quiet, lying motionless on the ground after one or more of the poles apparently cut off the animal’s airflow. A few seconds later, the video shows the dying animal being dragged down the hall by the neck.

City records obtained by the BGA under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act indicate the two ACC workers “struggled with the dog until the dog eventually collapsed,” and a supervisor “came into the unloading area and informed the Officers to ‘Let him breathe.’”

The BGA sued to get the video as part of an investigation into overall misconduct and abuse at the city pound. The mayor said he’s looking for a new director.

more by Robert Herguth via the Better Government Association

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