ALBERTVILLE, AL (WAFF) -
A Marshall County animal control officer is facing scrutiny and disciplinary action after he was seen driving around with a dead dog in his animal control truck.
The incident was seen on a Highway 431 from Albertville to Boaz. A woman took a snapshot of it and shared it on Facebook. She said it was particularly disturbing because she had her two children in the car.
Explaining to a small child why the officer drove around with a dead dog in the back of his truck is something Skylar Lambert couldn't answer, so she took a picture of it. She put it on Facebook, and with nearly 400 shares, the officer is now answering that question to his boss.
County commissioner James Hutcheson said he understands how people could feel upset at the sight. "I'm not trying to defend the animal control officer for driving down 431 with a dead dog. That should not have happened. It won't happen again," he said.
Lambert said people tried to tell the officer when he was stopped in Albertville. "A guy jumped out of his truck at the red light, ran around, knocked on his window to let him know the dog was hanging out, and he just kept going," she said.
Animal Control Officer Kevin Hooks said a man shot the dog when it became aggressive with him. Hooks said he didn't want to put the dead dog in with the three live animals in the cage. Hooks regrets the incident and said he wished he had covered the dog up because he didn't want to leave it at the home of the family the dog had apparently threatened.
"I didn't feel like I should leave it to be ravaged by coyotes or wild animals. There was also an 87-year-old woman that lived at the house and I didn't want to leave it there for her to see," he said.
Hutcheson said disciplinary action will be taken, although he declined to say what or when.
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The officer said he had to keep the dead dog away from live ones inside the cage. (Source: Mollie M.; image blurred by WAFF)
