Pleasant Plains man, Jordan Watkins, kicked and abused tiny dog then drove it out to the country and abandoned it to die

ILLINOIS -- A 20-year-old Pleasant Plains man faces animal cruelty charges after he allegedly injured a dog Monday and dumped it in a rural field.

Jordan L. Watkins was booked into the Sangamon County Jail on Wednesday on possible charges of animal cruelty, criminal damage to property and theft of property.

Police said Watkins was trying to let out the dog, a Maltese and Yorkie mix, in the backyard of a home in the 1900 block of East Pickett Street in Springfield when he got upset that the animal kept running behind some chairs and wasn't going outside.

Watkins allegedly kicked the dog and knocked it into a wall, causing the dog's eye to pop out of its socket, police said.

Watkins called his girlfriend, who is the sister of the dog's owner and was letting the animal stay at her house, and told her he was going to take the dog to the Animal Protective League for help.

Instead, police said, Watkins drove the dog out to the country and abandoned it in a field. Police said his story unraveled when the dog's owner called the APL and learned Watkins never brought in the dog.

The owner found the dog alive Tuesday in the area of Curran and Spaulding Orchard roads. The dog's right eye was protruding from the socket, and its right back leg was not moving, police said.

 

According to a veterinarian, the dog also suffered injuries to its lungs and ribs and could possibly need to have its back leg amputated. An adult Maltese and Yorkie mix weighs 7 to 8 pounds.

Watkins told deputies he didn't mean to hurt the dog and got scared after it happened, so he drove it out to the country.

Watkins remains in custody at the jail. Sangamon County State's Attorney John Milhiser said Thursday that his office has received the reports and is reviewing the case for criminal charges.

  

(State Journal Register - July 2, 2015)