Woman Unknowingly Dragged Dog Behind Pickup on I-70, Police Say

An animal abuse charge was filed against a driver who was seen dragging a puppy down Interstate 70 at speeds up to 65 mph.

Amy Taylor, 33, of Bridgeton, was stopped by a St. Charles Police detective May 22 on I-70 near Zumbehl Road after she was seen dragging the dog, which is named Coco.

The officer said Taylor was not aware that the dog had escaped the kennel inside the truck bed and was being drug behind the pickup truck.

A court document indicates Coco’s feet were worn raw and bleeding from being dragged behind the truck. The dog was transported to a local veterinarian hospital.  Coco is currently in good condition and expected to make a full recovery, St. Charles Police said.

Taylor told police that she had put Coco into a kennel, which was in the bed of the pickup truck. Coco was able to get out of the kennel and the cable attached to Coco’s collar wound up getting hung up on the pickup truck’s tailgate.

It is unknown how Coco got out of the kennel and the bed of the pickup truck.  Amy Taylor also told police that when she put Coco's kennel in the back of the pickup truck, she knew there were no screws to hold the kennel together.  Taylor put a leash on the dog and Taylor left that leash attached to Coco while in transit.

Taylor, of the first block of Terrisan Drive in Bridgeton, was charged Wednesday with animal abuse, a misdemeanor. Bail was set at $20,000.