In Dalhem, near Liège, Belgium, last Friday evening (July 4, 2025), a driver was caught dragging his dog behind his vehicle for several kilometers along the Rue de Visé. A witness filmed the horrific scene: the dog’s leash was wrapped around the car’s doors, and despite honking and alerting the driver, the abuse only stopped after several minutes. Once the car stopped, the man calmly placed the lifeless animal in his trunk and said, “I can do whatever I want with my dog,” before driving off.
Following the video’s rapid circulation online, outraged internet users tracked down the man’s address and bombarded him with death threats. A petition demanding justice quickly gathered over 1,000 signatures.
Retaliation Escalates to Arson
On the night of Monday, July 7, 2025, the suspect’s home in Oupeye was firebombed. Vandals spray-painted messages like “dog killer” and “revenge for your dog.” Fortunately, no one was harmed, but the mayor condemned the act, warning that it crossed the line into attempted murder: “If someone was inside when the house was set on fire deliberately at night, that is attempted murder… We are not living in a jungle here”.
Legal Investigation Underway
The Liège prosecutor’s office has launched two separate investigations: one for animal cruelty and another for arson. Authorities have called in an expert to determine if the fire was intentional. If convicted of arson, the perpetrator could face up to 30 years in prison.
On the animal cruelty side: the owner claims he left the dog in his car trunk around 7 p.m., then returned at 10 p.m. believing the dog was asleep. It was only when alerted by a motorist that he realized the dog was hanging outside the vehicle. The prosecutor confirms the owner has been interviewed and now faces charges that could result in 8 days to 3 years in prison, a fine ranging from €800 to €8 million, and revocation of his right to own animals.
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