Can you imagine the fear, panic, and pain of a dog who’s being dragged behind a vehicle? This is what Champ experienced just days ago. A video of Champ being helplessly dragged behind a red pickup truck surfaced on Snapchat on Monday, March 21. The Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Department took 70-year-old Willie Davis, of Houlka, Mississippi, into custody the same night.

Champ, a German Shepherd mix was taken to a regional veterinarian by his new caregivers to determine the extent of his wounds and the necessary treatment for his recovery. The severest crime Davis may be charged with is a misdemeanor charge of aggravated cruelty which carries a maximum fine of just $2,500, and a six-month jail term.

Last month, a bill went before the Mississippi House of Representatives Agriculture Committee that would have made aggravated animal cruelty a first offense felony. However, SB2174 was “killed” after the Mississippi Farm Bureau took a direct aim at it.

We cannot allow unspeakable acts of cruelty like this to be ignored, but that is precisely what the Farm Bureau persuaded the Mississippi State Legislature to do, in its stubborn fight to snuff a reasonable and compassionate law. We are calling on Mississippians to cancel their Farm Bureau insurance policies to protest the Bureau’s despicable actions to keep Mississippi’s animals unprotected from heinous cruelty.

In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals Campaign is working tirelessly to advance the cause for justice and show state legislators that the people of Mississippi are united against senseless and horrific animal abuse. Campaign members are aligning with Mississippi judges, prosecuting attorneys, law enforcement officials, legislators, animal advocates and concerned citizens to pass meaningful regional ordinances that will protect animals when state statutes fail.

In Defense of Animals has served in Mississippi for 24 years, aiding victims and law enforcement with hundreds of cruelty reports. With your support, we will end animal cruelty in the Deep South and across the US.

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